The Real Reason Kamala Lost and Trump Won: The Catchphrase Factor
Everybody keeps asking me this question: Why did Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton lose despite impressive credentials, is it because the USA is a male-dominated society? Well, I'd like to offer a different perspective than others. I believe the answer isn’t in sexism or social biases, and it's not in "the economy stupid," but in something simpler: the power of a memorable catchphrase. Winning elections, like winning in business, boils down to one thing: effective marketing.
Consider recent presidential victories: Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can,” Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better,” and Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again.” These slogans weren’t just words; they were emotional rallying cries, accessible to everyone from seasoned voters to 5-year-old kids. When I asked my own children what Obama’s slogan was, they remembered “Yes We Can” instantly. Ask the same about Harris or Clinton, and the silence is telling.
Catchphrases that stick are like the best brand slogans: memorable, simple, and powerful. They resonate because they tap into people’s hopes and aspirations. In both politics and business, it’s not always the best candidate or product that wins; it’s the one with the clearest, most compelling message.
Harris and Clinton had the experience and likability, but without a catchy, emotionally charged slogan, they couldn’t capture that same connection. Imagine if Harris had a slogan that spoke directly to voters’ dreams. Marketing like that can change the game!
Today, the best marketer wins, not necessarily the best product or candidate. Whether you’re selling a service, leading a business, or running for office, remember: keep it simple, keep it memorable, and keep it powerful.
What catchphrases do you think could have helped Kamala Harris resonate with more people? Share your ideas in the comments, and try to keep them short (3 or 4 words).
CEO at Top Drawer Media a Marketing and Publishing Company Northwest Aerospace News Magazine, AerospaceVendors.com, LetsGoAerospace.com, Volunteer Marketing Consultant / Lindbergh Foundation
1 周Her marketing plan was silence and hope enough people hated Trump.
Personal Empowerment Coach
2 周I disagree. I don't vote for slogan's, I vote for the best overall candidate. I chose not to vote for Kamala because I don't vote for sex or color and repeatedly, I was told by many of her supporters that I "had to" vote for her for those very reasons. The second reason she lost is she stated " I can't think of anything" when asked what she would change from the current administration policies. The Democratic party is not listening and voters felt unheard and ignored and those are reasons she lost. When you ignore your base, you cannot expect to win. Lastly, her campaign paid millions to have Hollywood elites come out in support of her and again, I think I can say that most intelligent, educated Americans don't vote by which "star" endorses the candidate, especially stars who are even tangentially associated with a huge scandal at the moment.
Owner - Principal Electrical Engineer at AcDc Engineering
2 周Why you ask?
Experienced Freelance Developer with expertise in Access, Excel, (MS Office) Database Development, VBA and JavaScript for MS Office and Google platforms.
2 周Could it be that the candidate who - proposed taxing unrealized income revealed a colossal lack of understanding of basic economics? - prposed multiple vote buying giveaways and didn't respect the intelligence of the average voter. - proposed many pie in the sky ideas of what she would do if elected.but voters noted all she didnt accomplished in the current failed administration. . - was teleprompter dependent and ran from unscripted open forum meetings displayed deficient communication skills. - was a notorious extreme liberal suddenly became a moderate and it wasn't plausible.
VP, Brand Partnerships at InfluenceLogic, Passionate Performance-Based Growth Marketer scaling incremental brands sales through the power of YouTube influencers
2 周I respectfully disagree on this one. They tried to create a catch phrase. “We are not going back” and “it’s time to turn the page” were Kamala’s. It wasn’t about her ideas and what she had done or would do… it was about the other guy. The problem with that catch phrase is that she was the incumbant in a country of millions who suffered during her time in office. People are smarter than catch phrases. But if you are going to create a catch phrase it needs to be inspiring and not a complaint. Obama inspired a nation with his positive message of HOPE and YES WE CAN. Harris’s theme was negative. Still, the catch phrase is secondary to someone’s ideas. If you can’t articulate your plan and want to refer someone to your website for answers, and if you can’t explain what you might do differently than your predecessor, then you are failing your job interview.