Donald Trump, the former president, was relishing a plummeting Joe Biden, following a terrible display in a June debate. Based on early voter perceptions, Trump’s journey to reclaim presidency seemed more feasible. Trump’s directive for his crew was not to press too hard on Biden, in order to keep him in the race longer.
Biden’s less-than-impressive performance sparked concerns amongst his own party, leading fellow Democrats to push for Kamala Harris as their preferred candidate. As the vice president, Harris was seen as a safer bet to ward off the looming threat of Trump’s return despite the inevitable damage to Biden’s prestige and self-esteem.
These morsels of inside stories punctuated the narrative from a conference that gathered top-tier handlers of the 2024 presidential campaigns. Typically, these post-mortems provide a somber endnote to the election cycle, but this year it was replete with exceptional instances.
Of note were two failed attempts on Trump’s life, an unprecedented replacement of a nominee, allegations of email hacking by China and Iran, and political resurrection not seen since the 19th century. As the day unfolded, the conference attempted to piece together a holistic narrative to comprehend the extraordinary circumstances and unexpected outcomes of the election.
One of the striking themes reverberating among Trump’s aides and enemies alike was the observation that a large faction of the GOP was unwavering in their admiration and support of Trump. Figureheads like former New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, and former South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley, who attempted to penetrate this solid wall of Trump loyalty, inevitably faced defeat.
Initially, there was a begrudging respect for DeSantis within the party, but it eroded hastily upon the onset of the campaign. Trump’s playbook remained steadfast in his belief in intuitive decision-making over relying on outside counsel.
The Trump campaign had deciphered that their victory hinges on a policy-driven campaign, as opposed to a personality contest. More often than not, Trump’s strategy to cultivate lower-tier antagonists was a deliberate move to disperse the anti-Trump sentiment and avoid a direct competition scenario.
Trump’s errant posts on social media had the power to divert the discourse, dragging the entire primary field along. His strong-willed, individualistic approach refrained from broadening his appeal, much to the chagrin of his allies.
There’s a unanimous agreement that Biden’s June 27 debate performance was a catastrophe. The shooting incident at a Trump rally and another foiled attack near a Florida golf course dramatically impacted the campaign’s mobility.
In the wake of these incidents, Kamala Harris, equipped with limited time, was keen on provoking more debates with Trump. Unfortunately, their sole face-off didn’t give her the boost she needed, making the situation in her camp increasingly uncertain.
As the race neared its conclusion, both sides were grated by internal infighting and disorganization. By the time election day rolled around, observers noted that the Harris camp appeared to be grappling with unseen pressures and norms than her opponent, Trump.
Biden’s deteriorated standing was best depicted in his stumbling performance in the June debate. As a result, he was perceived as a weak link in his party, giving an inadvertent edge to Trump’s campaign. Eventually, this led to internal shifts within the Democratic party, with Kamala Harris chosen over Biden.
Trump, reveling in the chaos, advised his staff not to push Biden out completely yet. The entirety of the campaign was marred by unprecedented incidents, including assassination attempts against Trump, major data breaches, and a late switch in the Democratic party’s nomination.
The 2024 campaign, with all its unexpected interventions and outcomes, left the election’s architects puzzled and intrigued. To this date, deciphering the true narrative of the campaign remains a fundamentally challenging endeavor.