Dem
48
GOP
52
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are ending their respective campaigns on totally different notes. As in, oriented 180 degrees from each other. On Saturday, Harris released her final ad, which played during NFL games yesterday, including the one between the Wisconsin Packers and the Michigan Lions (we're a political site; we care about states, not cities, at least when V is writing). Here is the ad:
If you don't want to watch it, suffice it to say that it is very upbeat and uplifting. It is entitled "brighter future" and focuses on unity, and describes Americans as neighbors, not enemies. It has Harris speaking to the camera with many cutaways showing Harris talking to ordinary Americans in ordinary settings, people working, people shopping, people playing, all with Harris doing voiceovers. She keeps repeating that Americans are good people who believe in each other. There are many scenes with children while Harris says we can "build a brighter future for our nation." There is nothing negative in the ad and no mention of Trump at all. (Z) watched the Packers game, and can confirm the spot aired at least once per quarter.
In contrast, Trump doesn't have a single final ad, but his Madison Square Garden speech and all his current ads are intensely negative. They depict America as a failed Third World country and it's all Harris' fault. They are all about fear—immigrants, crime, prices—it's doomsday in America. Probably in a week we will know if fear trumps hope. Historically, hope wins. Remember St. Ronnie of Reagan and "Morning in America"? Republicans weren't always so negative.
In case you weren't aware—which means that either: (1) you don't go out to public places much or (2) are a man—what with having a billion dollars to spend on ads, Harris' campaign is in the toilet. Literally. OK, well, the bathroom. As we've noted a couple of times, there is a grassroots campaign afoot in which women are attaching sticky notes to the inside of bathroom stalls in stores, airports, hair salons, colleges, and many other places. They all say something to the effect: "Your vote is private. Your boyfriend/husband doesn't have to know who you voted for. Vote Kamala." As we have also noted, the grassroots campaign to deceive boyfriends/husbands is now widespread enough that Vote Common Good, a non-profit organization, made an ad with voiceover from Julia Roberts encouraging it. Here it is again:
In short, a woman walks into the polling place with a man, presumably her husband. Then she locks eyes with another woman and marks the ballot for Harris. Then the man asks: "Did you make the right choice?" and she says: "Sure did, honey."
Republicans are going bonkers about the sticky notes and ad. Daniel McCarthy, editor-at-large of "The American Conservative" wrote: "In the eyes of Team Harris, any woman who isn't openly supporting the Democrat must be a hostage to false consciousness—or to an ogre husband." Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, called the ad "the embodiment of the downfall of the American family." Imagine, a woman making her own choices. Fox News host Jesse Watters told viewers that his wife secretly voting for Harris would be like her having an affair. If so, a lot of women are having affairs. Polls show that 1 in 8 women have voted differently from their husbands and not told them. This year it could be a lot more. (V)