Biden should put on his dancing shoes and woo nonpartisan voters

President Biden needs to mop up. independent voters Vote for him or lose a second term in November’s presidential election, or waltz to the polls with your feet up.

So far he has refused to dance.

These critical voters, especially battleground states States such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin could decide Biden’s fate, just as they did in the 2020 election. Remember when Donald Trump begged Georgia for 11,780 more votes to change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election?

This is a result of the two-party system. winner take all, electoral college This allows you to win the presidency without having to win the popular vote, making it increasingly polarized politics. Therefore, using national polls to predict the outcome of presidential elections, as is commonly done; Wrong result.

Among the independents are a small number of voters in battleground states who will decide whether President Joseph Biden or candidate Donald Trump will become the next president of the United States. Of these voters:

• 55% are male
• 59% are under 49 years old
• 46% have less than high school education
• Half is white.

These voters are not doing very well.While the economy is growing, unemployment is rising under And the stock market all-time highall these voters look Food and rent prices for many things are becoming more and more expensive. their salary.and they all feel It’s uncertainty about their present and future.

Uncertainty creates Anxiety and fear of what tomorrow will bring. These voters have done everything they can to make ends meet, but a mountain of bills blocks any glimmer of hope on the horizon and signals an excruciating failure. They get frustrated and angry and then try to blame someone else. President Biden, the country’s leader, is a natural target.

Biden and his campaign don’t seem to understand that different voters use different strategies to make decisions and require different ways to reach and persuade them.

used by voters 3 models make decision:

1. Cognition: This classic voter behavior pattern follows a think-feel-vote sequence. Voters first form thoughts and beliefs about the candidate and their supporters, and then develop positive or negative feelings about the candidate, which leads to a vote for or against. Approximately 50 million voters registered democrat and 42 million registered Republicans Use this model. It’s safe to assume that in 2024, most Democrats and Republicans will vote as registered, even if they don’t like the candidates.
2. Emotion: In this mode, feelings about a candidate lead to the act of voting, which then leads to the formation of beliefs about the candidate. used by 57 million independent voters They lean toward either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Both Democrats and Republicans are “light”.
3. Action: This starts with voting, where feelings and beliefs about candidates are formed. 4.3 million independent voters without leaning towards any political party Use this model. This idea is as old as Biblical style. “Do it first, figure it out later.” Its modern use by Nike “Just do it” Slogan and Alka Seltzer’s “Try it, you’ll love it” Commercial.

So far, Biden’s campaign messages seem to have focused on cognitive and emotional voters, ignoring behavioral voters. message like this They have conveyed positive information about a growing economy, low unemployment, a rising stock market, rising consumer confidence, and the need to protect democracy, the southern border, and individual rights, including abortion rights. .

Ignoring active voters is a surefire way to lose elections. For Biden to win, he will need to cajole these voters, especially those in battleground states, to the booth. Dance is dynamic and never too old or outdated. And it must paint a compelling picture of the future for voters, give them hope and assure them that he has their back.

To accomplish this, Biden must:

• Identify exactly who these voters are. This is not an easy task as it is difficult to reach.
• Recognize their daily struggles and difficult lives like many others. feel what you can’t see And forgotten.
• Empathize with them and feel their pain. president clinton He was successful in the 1992 presidential election.
• enact beneficial policies such as those proposed Expansion of childcare support funds and Additional Student Loan Cancellation.
• Use uplifting campaign messages, enhanced by inspirational music, to help you feel better.
• Be more present, appearan invisible president could be perceived as hiding something.
• Wear casual clothing so you don’t seem aloof or distant. warm candidate It is preferred over cold food.
• speak with empathy and pronounce every word.
• With the help of surrogates, spread his vision of a better future for surrogate mothers and their families.

This type of communication is emotional in nature. They are preaching over logic, emotion over fact, heart over heart, and poetry over reality. He is very similar to Congressman Jim Clyburn (D.C.), a speaker and civil rights leader. Already used It was when he supported Biden in 2020 and put him on course to win. Biden needs thousands of Clyburns to spread the love.

Admittedly, this is a tall order for the Biden campaign. But without an emotional appeal to tango with voters who don’t lean toward a political party, Biden is likely to lose the race.

Will you dance, Mr. President?

Abraham Schama is an award-winning author and former university professor. His doctoral thesis was on voter decision making and political marketing.