Campaign styles split amid COVID
Trump, in Dayton today, holds traditional rallies, as Biden limits contact.
President Trump arrives in Ohio today for two rallies during a coronavirus pandemic that has upended traditional aspects of presidential campaigns and revealed a stark contrast in how the two candidates connect with voters.
“For President Trump, his rallies are such an important part of his identity that he just can’t conceive of campaigning any other way,” said Mark Caleb Smith, director of the Center for Political Studies at Cedarville University. “In his own mind, doing rallies is a critical part of his campaign — and those are in person,
those are large events and they are controversial given the nature of the virus.”
But in a presidential election year like no other, even the act of having a campaign event is politically polarized.
“There is no easy style of campaigning right now, unless you want to be reckless,” said Rhine McLin, vice chairwoman of the OhioDemocraticPartyandformer
Dayton mayor.
Trump is scheduled to appear at aprivate campaign event called “Fighting for the American Worker” at 4:30 p.m. at Wright Bros. Aero, which operates at the Dayton International Airport.
Citing the coronavirus, former Vice President Joe Biden, theDemocratic nominee, has eschewed the kinds of events Trump relishes.
“As President Trump continues tohold events thatdisregard his own administration’s guidance during this pandemic, Biden for President is engaging with voters strategically andsafely— over the airwaves, and by directly connecting with Ohioans one-on-one as we continue to growa diverse coalition of support that will help defeat President Trump in November,” said ToniWebb, director of Biden’s campaign in Ohio on Friday.
But Dan Lusheck, spokesmanfortheTrumpcampaign in Ohio, accused Biden of hiding from voters.
“Democrats’ strategy is to try to make campaigning from Joe Biden’s basement seem normal and correct because they knowthey havea terrible candidate with adisastrous record,” he said. “We don’t share their enthusiasm for hiding their candidate and scripting interviews with a teleprompter. Hidin’ Joe Biden doesn’t measure up to President Trump, and they know it.”
After departing Dayton today, Trump is scheduled to appear outside Toledo at a Great American Comeback rally that is open to the public.
“Thepresident gets energy from crowds. He gets motivated from crowds. It’s his favorite mode of campaigning and he simply isn’t going to put that asidewhen his reelection is at stake,” said Jim Nathanson, a Dayton-based political consultant.
Nathanson, who ran former President George H.W. Bush’s 1988campaigninOhio and a former Republican NationalCommittee political director, said Biden is more willing totake a relaxed style.
“He’s less affected by staying away from large groups and campaigning through small groups, through television, through Zoom events,” he said. “It’s really
thedifference in their styles.”
Smith said while Biden may be playing it safe with the virus, his campaign team is also playing it safe by limiting what Biden may say at public appearances.
“It’sclearthathiscampaign team is trying to reduce his interactions to some extent with media members and audiences,” hesaid.“Because in their minds, they’re ahead and there’s no need to over campaign.”
Nathanson said Trump sees little need to restrict his behaviorwhileBidenbelieves altering behavior is central to fighting the pandemic.
“What you find is their difference in campaign styles are reinforced by their different attitudes toward how they handle the pandemic,” Nathanson said.
Those attitudes will likely clash when they meet Sept. 29 for the first presidential debate in Cleveland.
“Ohioans are fed up with Trump’s broken promises, and Joe is eager to return to our battleground state to share his vision for how we can build back better than ever before,” saidWebb with the Biden campaign, though the campaign did not say whether Biden plans to visit southwest Ohio.
The pandemic has also shifted the way retail politics is practiced, withmuch more conducted online and fewer campaign offices and interns knocking on doors, Smith said.
“I think the long-term effects of the virus on how candidates campaign could besignificant, butwe’regoing to need to see data before we know how significant,” he said.
McLin said the traditional door-to-door campaigning is being replaced with campaigns working hard to get videostogoviralonplatforms like Twitter and Tik Tok.
“You really got to be
creative about how you do a campaign in COVID,” she said.
State Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Butler Twp. — who is also chairman of the Montgomery County GOP — said area Republican candidates have curtailed large local events and there are fewer parades wheretheycanmeetthepublic. But they are still knocking ondoorsanddroppingoffliterature, which can be done safely if theywearmasks and keep their distance, he said.
“People respect they are at their doors they appreciate it, and they appreciate people wearing masks,” Plummer said.
Lusheck said the Trump campaign transitioned from in-person to virtual, then back to in-person events during the pandemic and
has knocked on two million doors in Ohio and contacted more than 10 million Ohio voters.
“(The Trump campaign) fully intends on once again winningMontgomeryCounty forPresidentTrump, andthe president has made it clear that all roads to the White House run through Ohio,” he said. “The president has been aggressively campaigning in Ohio for over a year, and our unprecedented field operation is certain todeliver a huge victory in November for President Trump.
While gatherings of no more than 10 people are still generally prohibited by state public health rules, there aremany exemptionswhich include for political rallies, said Dan Suffoletto, Public Health – Dayton& Montgomery
County spokesman.
But the advice of health officials remains unchanged.
“Whether you go into the Bengalsgameor you’re going to a political rally, we’re still encouraging you to wear your mask, keep social distance and wash your hands frequently,” Suffoletto said.
Lusheck said they provide masks and hand sanitizer and do temperature checks at their events.
The website to register for Trump’s public events includes a disclaimer releasing his campaign and its affiliates of liability related to coronavirus. “By registering for this event, you understandandexpresslyacknowledge that an inherent risk of exposure toCOVID-19exists in any public place where people are present,” it says.