The Sharp Contrast Between the Biden and Trump Online Campaigns

Joe Biden strives to project an image of a likable candidate who cares about the issues. Donald Trump is on the attack.

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Back in 2008, Barack Obama’s campaign pioneered the use of the web and associated metrics, catching his opponent John McCain flat-footed. It changed the way candidates ran for president. And now, since the pandemic prevents both Donald Trump and Joe Biden from having rallies or other in-person events, the online campaign is pretty much the only campaign.

Not since 2008 have we seen as sharp a contrast in the digital media presence between presumptive nominees. But this time the difference is almost entirely about tone.

Take, for example, this recent Trump campaign email:

Note the use of caps-lock, colored fonts, and the use of sarcastic nicknames for Mike Bloomberg and Joe Biden. 

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  1. Melissa

    Haha, how suitable that a limited time only promotional Donald Trump coloring book is the prize for supporting him. Maybe he can also include a Trump(R) towelette for his fans to use to wipe the drool from the pages.

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  2. USNA 1982

    Great article, Ward! Looking good, ‘82!

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  3. Frank Pepp

    reat article! It boils down to treat people how you would want to be treated, right? I judge news sites the same way. Are they respectful of me and more importantly not trying to exploit my grandparents?

    I almost unsubscribed from WaPo for bad ads, but they fixed them soon after. I guess I wasn't the only one writing missives!

    I'm going to miss these ad free/ad light Dispatch days!

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    Visibly

    I hope the referendum will be one of decorum. An one of respecting the constitution, the health of the nation and against cronyism. I hope Biden can give 4 years to reset USA, within USA, but also within the world.

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    1. Victoria Ferauge

      The world will continue to turn regardless of what the US does. From where I sit world leaders have become quite deft at pretending to listen to the US and then merrily going their own way. The TPP is a splendid example. Americans talk as though their pulling out was the final word and that it died. Not at all. The other countries involved renamed it and just went ahead and signed it. None of this is necessarily a bad thing but it does mean more uncertainty. How will this shake out and who or what will take that world leadership role is unknown. A Biden win won't change that reality, in my view.

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  5. Paul Brady

    The election will be a referendum on Trump. Can we put up with his crazy for another 4 years? Some of his voters in 2016 will have second thoughts in 2020. (Why his approval ratings remain at 40-45%). His base is solid but not enough to win. He'll have to demonize Biden to at least keep some Dems home if not move them to vote Trump.

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      Idontdocute

      It will be harder at the end of summer when, I would guess, the real estate bubble bursts and the housing market tanks...again.

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    rlritt

    Biden seems like a boring, regular guy. How refreshing.

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    Ray Salemi

    Novelist? Tell me more. I want to see what got the guy on Amazon to say that.

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    Pat Riot

    Trump and the Republicans have shown that their 2020 campaign strategy is just going to be a stream of brazen lies ala "Hunter Biden got billions from China", or "Obamagate!", or whatever they (or Russia) thinks of next.

    I don't think the lies are going to sway a single independent voter from Biden to Trump--they are only made to rally the base. Trump's base knows his lies are lies, and they love him *because* he lies because that makes him more powerful (this is what they mean by, "he fights").

    I actually think Trump's lies are getting kind of old for a swath of independent voters...

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      Visibly

      You are very right. But how can Democrats change people with doubt on what is best for America in the next few years? From abroad, your vote in November, will decide whether you are still a democracy in the future.

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      Johntadian

      I'm pretty sure they're going to run on record unemployment, particularly among minorities; Judge selections, a muscular foreign policy; border security and a lessening of strangling regulations, among other successes. Yes, Trump is an asshat, but the policies implemented in the last two years (except for the horrible trade stuff) by his administration are in stark contrast to democrat aspirations. if Biden ever climbs out of his basement, his, as Jonah likes to say, "get these squirrels off me!" moments, as well as whatever policy positions he'll be allowed by his handlers to squeak out, will scare the bejeesus out of the hallowed "independant" voters.

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        Idontdocute

        I am pretty sure that the record unemployed are going to be voting and could care less about judges, foreign policy, or regulations. Voting, not just for old white guys.

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        Pat Riot

        Okay. I guess we'll see in the polls.

        I'm not sure "record unemployment" is a lie even the Republicans could swing right now though.

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          Pat Riot

          Um, I think either I or John got the comment backwards on unemployment....

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    Show Jay Janney the 🚪!

    Don't under-estimate Trump. If you read how he won Michigan in 2016, it was very entrepreneurial. They tracked where MAAGA hates were selling well, and moved campaign resources there.

    I will confess. In September 2016 Trump said Michigan was in play and I rolled my eyes. ANFW he was goin' to win a heavy union state like Michigan. He won. I was wrong.

    So while I think it won't work, I've been wrong before, so I am not writing him off yet.

    Personally, I think Trump whiffed by not donning cloth red MAGA masks. If he had made it cool among his minions, it would have flummoxed Dems....

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    karmol

    I somehow got on the Trump Campaign mailing list, it looks like the worst version of an infomercial - "President Trump has personally chosen you as a VIP for being one of his biggest donors", etc. I've been screenshotting the most egregious, I really dislike this type of marketing (and frankly, what it says about how they regard their own supporters...)

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    1. Frank Pepp

      You could perhaps do a service by assembling these? Starting a good Reddit post?

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      Ms. SSM

      I have also gotten on these mailing lists somehow. One thing I notice is they are often selling me something. Literally as in buy this item.

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      Ray Salemi

      I have to wonder about the demographic for these emails. They almost read like pleas from a Nigerian prince.

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    4. David D

      I signed on in 2015 when I was planning on going to a rally because I thought it'd be fun to watch the clownshow. I can tell you now there is no way off the list

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        Visibly

        Do you have a right to comment?

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        1. David D

          What?

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            Visibly

            Sorry, I may have misunderstood. You mentioned beeing on a list. My question to you was whether you could comment to articles or people on this list. I did not mean to be argumentative.

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