Four characters are in a funfair attraction. Seated in their blue wagon, the two at the top, the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Tim Walz, go up at full speed, with smiles on their faces and arms raised.
At the bottom of the picture, two other figures, the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, and his running mate, JD Vance, cling to their falling red wagon. And they don’t seem to be enjoying this dizzying descent.
Enough to illustrate the twists and turns of an American election campaign that looks like a roller coaster, beautifully sketched by illustrator Barry Blitt on the cover of the 26. August edition of The New Yorker.
To close the gap created by Trump
Americans never cease to be surprised, ever since the first turning point of this campaign: the assassination attempt that Donald Trump escaped during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024.
Very quickly, it seemed that coming close to death could only benefit the former president, who was martyred by supporters who praised his resilience and his sense of sacrifice, especially during the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin. If this gathering should already be a coronation, “it took on an extra dimension”, something almost divine, it says The New Yorker.
Trump was then in an optimal position to move in the polls, a trend further enhanced by the appointment of his running mate, JD Vance, perceived as even more radical than him. But now another big twist occurs. Joe Biden withdraws from the race for the White House on July 21. He thus leaves the way clear for Kamala Harris.
And the current vice president was quick to make up for the gap Trump has widened, the magazine said, noting the lead in the polls in certain key states but also her significant fundraising. “It’s been ten years since a Democrat managed to match Trump’s aura,” note THE The New Yorker.
Wind in the sails
Kamala Harris chose a running mate with a very different profile to hers in the form of Tim Walz. The governor of Minnesota highlights his “rural and labor ties” in a party that “Usually appeals to educated urban and suburban voters.” Thus, the Democratic presidential ticket seems to have everything to please a large number of voters.
As the Democratic National Convention began on August 19 in Chicago, it appears that the wind is now blowing in the sails of Kamala Harris’ ship. But be careful, warns Barry Blitt, considering the beginning of this campaign, “very wise who can predict the next twists and turns.” and the next storms.
