Presidential Campaign Research Articles

Immigration in the 2024 US presidential election campaign: policy stalemate, disinformation, and a call for mass deportation

Immigration has been one of the most contentious and defining issues of the 2024 presidential election, rivaled only by economic policy and national security. The Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, has largely succeeded in setting the terms of the debate – hammering away at his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, with hyperbolic claims that she supports “open borders” and false accusations that the US is experiencing a wave of violent crime committed by migrants. Trump’s immigration rhetoric relies increasingly on lies, misinformation, and racist stereotypes. But his claim that immigration is “out of control” – and his insistence that firm measures are needed to address it – have become central to the Republican platform, and one of Trump’s most frequently repeated campaign promises is that he will deport millions of undocumented immigrants soon after taking office. Why is immigration such a controversial issue in the US? How have the different administrations dealt with it? Is it an overused issue in this campaign?

Ethnic discrimination, cultural identification, and well-being among undocumented Hispanic immigrants in the United States: A test of the rejection-identification model.

This study aimed to examine the rejection-identification model (RIM) within a community sample of undocumented Hispanic immigrants in the United States, a unique and vulnerable population who face distinct legal and sociopolitical challenges. The RIM posits that ethnic discrimination is associated with increased identification with one's ethnic group, which, in turn, is positively associated with well-being. Data were collected from a community sample of 140 undocumented Hispanic immigrants living in the South-Central United States during the height of the 2015 Trump presidential campaign. Path analysis was employed to examine direct and indirect effects of perceived ethnic discrimination vis-à-vis ethnic identity, U.S. identity, and two forms of well-being (life satisfaction and flourishing). Age (M = 34.83), gender (50% men), and time spent in the United States were included as covariates. Higher ethnic discrimination was associated with lower U.S. and ethnic identity. Both ethnic and U.S. identity were positively associated with flourishing, whereas only U.S. identity was positively associated with life satisfaction. We also found a significant indirect effect of ethnic identity in the relationship between ethnic discrimination and flourishing. Findings are inconsistent with the RIM, as ethnic discrimination was negatively rather than positively associated with ethnic group identification. Undocumented Hispanic immigrants are a vulnerable population who may experience dual disidentification from both U.S. and ethnic cultural streams when perceiving ethnic discrimination during adverse sociopolitical periods. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Political Labeling on Social Media: a Netnographic Study of “SDM Rendah” in Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Election on X (Twitter)

The 2024 presidential election campaign in Indonesia has produced various unique phenomena, including the emergence of the "Low Human Resources'' (SDM Rendah) label directed at the supporters of candidate pair 02 by the supporters of candidate pairs 01 and 03. The existence of this label has become a spotlight because it reflects the dynamics of politics and social interaction within the community. In conducting the netnographic research strategy in this study, the primary focus is on gaining a deep understanding of the underlying reasons for this labeling, as well as how it affects public perception and the overall political dynamics. The social media platform X was selected as the research subject due to its crucial role in facilitating communicative interaction, including the labeling process. It is expected that the results of this research can provide deeper insights into the phenomenon of labeling in the political realm on the X social media platform, as well as provide a better understanding for politicians and the public regarding the importance of using social media platforms wisely in the political context. This research also has significant academic implications in the field of communication science, particularly in the theory of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), which can contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of social media in contemporary politics. The practical implications cannot be overlooked either, especially in the efforts to raise awareness of the power and impact of social media platforms in the political context during the 2024 presidential campaign in Indonesia.

An In-Depth Bibliometric Exploration of Research on “Bullshit” Communication

Scholarly interest in unclarifiable unclarity, commonly referred to as bullshit (BS) communication, has been steadily growing, driven by events such as recent US presidential campaigns, the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the prevalence of misinformation on social media. However, until now, there has been no comprehensive review of research in this domain. This bibliometric study analyzes 249 documents published from 1971 to 2023, sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Our primary goal is to map the research landscape on BS communication within organizational contexts. Employing techniques such as co-citation and collaboration network analyses, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and thematic mapping, the study reveals the fundamental social, intellectual, and conceptual structures shaping the knowledge base while highlighting key topics and themes in BS communication research. Beyond identifying these central themes, the study also critically evaluates prior research and offers recommendations for future investigations.

Polarization and hate speech based on fuzzy logic and transformers: the case of the 2023 Spanish general elections

ABSTRACT Affective polarization in the digital debate of the Spanish presidential election campaign (2023), following the sudden call of the Spanish president on July 23, was measured. Using transformers, topics were detected, and sentiment analysis techniques were applied in the political debate during the elections to measure the emotional valence of the debate. The topics that dominate most of the debate are Candidates (n1 = 17170) and Opposition (n3 = 15327). These topics also show the highest typical polarization deviances. Based on affective polarization, a polarization measure (JDJ) grounded in the fuzzy sets was applied. The topic activism has the highest polarization value, while the topic of voting has the lowest. This analysis highlights a dichotomy that defines the Spanish political reality: the positive image of conventional political participation in the face of the rejection of collective action processes.

Autism in April at public libraries: Shifting from awareness to acceptance

Public libraries in the United States provide programs and services for their communities, including those focused on timely events, holidays, and public awareness campaigns. Formerly known as Autism Awareness Month, April is now recognized as Autism Acceptance Month and has been highlighted through presidential proclamations and campaigns from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This paper explores what services public libraries in the US are providing about autism in the month of April, and what language they use to describe it. Results indicate that while few public libraries hold special events to celebrate autism in April, those that do share potentially valuable information about autism with parents, caregivers, educators, and members of the community at large. Some also provide important opportunities for autistic patrons to gather. However, many event descriptions use language that is not in alignment with autistic individuals’ preferences, and opportunities for autistic patrons of all ages are limited. Results from this study highlight gaps in public library programing, with implications for providing better services around Autism Acceptance Month.

Migration policy as a factor influencing the USA presidential election

The article presents the transformation of US migration policy and analyzes its impact on the balance of power in the 2024 presidential election campaign. The 2024 election campaign in the US is characterized by significant differences between the major parties and their voters, as well as an emphasis on key economic and immigration issues that have divided American society. Mexico is the main labor donor to the US, and it is also a gateway for illegal migration from Latin America and Southeast Asia. Almost all the time of the existence of the United States, the immigration policy of the country shows that migration plays an important role in the development of American society. The problem of illegal migration has always existed and continues to have a significant impact on the socio-economic development of the country. The current U.S. immigration strategy combines continuity with restrictive measures, while seeking to adapt migration flows to the economic needs of the country. The article analyzes the impact of migration policy on the U.S. political landscape during the 2024 election campaign. Migration policy in the United States today is a tool for conducting political struggle and "settling scores". Illegal migrants from Latin American countries will have a particular impact on the upcoming elections, so a characteristic feature of the 2024 election campaign is a cross-party struggle for the Latin American electorate, coupled with tougher migration policies. The authors draw attention to the reasons for the transformation of the US migration system and give their forecast regarding the outcome of elections in the country under certain conditions.

American presidential campaign and ageism.

Ageism is still acceptable in our society, as age-focused criticism during the last American presidential campaign shows. Media and social media discourse on ageism, sexism, and racism shows the need of raising the awareness of ageism. We present Eugene Braunwald as an example of excellence at an advanced age. Dr. Braunwald, aged 95, has just published his article number 1,618. Preventing and counteracting ageism should be an objective of health-care workers, journalists, governments, companies, and civil society organizations. Some of our current clinical guidelines and medical care protocols might discriminate the elderly. To overcome age bias we must educate politicians, physicians, and the public. We propose some measures to fight against this type of discrimination, as asking politicians about age/aging/ ageism, promoting clinical trials in older patients, and avoiding the use of age alone in the decision-making processes.

Network Issue Agenda Setting on Facebook: Exploring the Interplay Between Polarized Campaigns and Party Supporters

This study undertook an analysis of network agenda setting during the 2020 U.S. Presidential campaign, focusing on the interactions between the campaigns and their respective supporters within the context of a polarized social media environment. By employing social network analysis techniques to examine issue agendas, the study revealed a relatively weak correlation between the agendas of the campaigns and their affiliated supporters on Facebook. Conversely, it found a notable association between entities sharing the same ideological orientation—party supporters displayed a higher degree of engagement with their own party’s campaign, and vice versa. The implications of these findings, from a theoretical, methodological, and practical standpoint, have been thoroughly discussed.

Beyond Words: Semiotic Strategies in Indonesian Presidential Campaign Posters

This article investigates the semiotic strategies employed in Indonesian presidential campaign posters, utilizing semiotics as a powerful tool to decode symbols and signs in political communication. The study focuses on the verbal and visual aspects of the posters, aiming to uncover their intended meaning, myth, and ideologies. Through a comprehensive analysis of the visual elements, symbols, and textual cues, the research examines the semiotic strategies employed to convey messages and influence voter perceptions. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of semiotics and political communication, the findings reveal how subtle visual and textual choices shape the interpretation and reception of political messages. The implications extend beyond this specific campaign, offering valuable insights for future electoral discourse and visual communication strategies. Understanding the semiotic strategies in political campaigning enhances our comprehension of the complex dynamics of political communication, facilitating a more nuanced understanding of how political messages are constructed and perceived. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of semiotics in political communication and provides a foundation for further research in the field.

Measuring the Strength of Presidential Campaign Funding, Political Party Advertising Shopping 2024

The General Election Commission has released a report on the campaign funds of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2024 election. Prabowo Subianto - Gibran Rakabuming Raka was recorded as the largest, far surpassing Ganjar Pranowo - Mahfud MD and Anies Baswedan - Muhaimin Iskandar.The advertisements were created to get the audience to increase the party's popularity. Golkar is the political party with the highest advertising spending on social media over the last three months, disbursing funds amounting to IDR 3.74 billion. This figure is quite far apart when compared to the advertising costs of other political parties. I am following in second place with a nominal advertising expenditure of IDR 785.6 million. National Awakening Party and Gerindra with advertising costs on social media amounting to IDR 195.7 million and IDR 49.18 million respectively. PSI is in first place with the most advertisements, namely 1,277 advertisements on television amounting to IDR 42.84 billion, Perindo is in second place for the party with the most advertisements on TV, IDR. 82.73 billion and 1,220 advertisements. The electability of the political parties PDIP and Gerindra compete closely in the female voter group, these two parties were both chosen by 18.8% of female voter respondents. Gerindra's electability reached 19.5%, slightly ahead of PDIP which obtained 19.3%. In the election of 5 major political parties, namely Gerindra, PDIP, Golkar, PKB and PKS, Gerindra was the party most chosen by young people under 30 years of age, with a vote share of 24.6%.

The influence of follower reactions on political leaders’ environmental policy communication: toward a social-mediated dynamic influence framework

ABSTRACT This study proposes that social-mediated leadership communication is a dynamic influence process, involving visible leader communications, follower emotional responses, and subsequent leader actions. These interactions form a feedback loop, where follower reactions influence leaders' strategic communication. We tested this framework by analyzing U.S. political leaders' engagement with the Green New Deal during the 2020 Presidential campaign. Using Facebook posts from congressional politicians and data on follower reactions, we applied longitudinal network models, natural language processing, and multilevel event history models to examine factors behind leaders' decisions to co-share content and discuss specific policy topics. Our findings support the dynamic influence framework, showing that follower reactions, especially those indicating support and boosting message virality, are most likely to prompt shifts in leaders’ communication strategies.

Ferociously Cute

Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election campaign was shaped by an alliance struck between outgoing incumbent Joko (Jokowi) Widodo and a former rival, Prabowo Subianto, who chose Jokowi’s son as his running mate. The seeming affirmation of dynastic power drew criticism, as did Prabowo’s former associations with the authoritarian New Order regime and its human rights abuses. But Prabowo remade his image with his promises of free school lunches and a new “cute” persona while pledging continuity with his popular predecessor’s administration, demonstrating the ambiguities of Indonesian democracy a quarter-century after the end of the New Order era.

Expectativas de gênero em campanhas: a incorporação do feminino na representação visual do masculino

Abstract This paper investigates the use of gender stereotypes during the primary presidential campaigns of 2022 in Brazil. Employing an interpretative visual methodology, the study analyzes 14 images that were sourced from the Instagram profiles of the two main candidates. The objective of the study is to explore the role of masculine and feminine elements within the candidates’ campaign aesthetics. We argue that feminine signifiers are discernible in the visual portrayal of both male candidates, contributing to a larger general trend in the political realm of softening authority figures.

Health aspects of the presidential election in the United States.

The prospect of a Biden-Trump rematch had raised concerns. The argument of Trump on the older age of Biden led to a boomerang effect when the latter was replaced by the much younger Kamala Harris whose mixed African and Asian ancestry should lead to her support on international issues. Swing voters might be attracted by her potential as the first female president. Assertive on the politically controversial issue of abortion, Kamala Harris already spent a substantial part of her vice-presidency on women issues. Her promotion of sexual and reproductive rights during the presidential campaign augurs well for restoring those priorities on the American political agenda.

Manufacturing concern: Inside Richard Nixon’s “law and order” campaign

With a view to contributing to an in-depth understanding of political engagement with public opinion about crime or cognate issues in the United States, this article dissects how Richard Nixon and his inner circle dealt with citizens’ views on what he collectively termed “law and order,” both during his 1968 presidential campaign and his first term in office. Based on novel data from heretofore unused or otherwise underused archival sources, the article lends concrete support to a notion which prior works have asserted without sufficient evidence, dismissed as a conspiracy theory, or, more recently, attempted to revise; namely, that Nixon’s “law and order” messaging was meant to manipulate the public so as to reap electoral dividends for him. In the process of so doing, the article investigates a series of previously understudied themes and the ways in which they intersect: Whose views exactly did Nixon try to shape to his advantage? Which strategy did he follow and what precise means did he use? And how effective were his efforts? It is shown that Nixon targeted both the white majority at large and discrete sections of it: his conservative base, disaffected Democrats, and blue-collar immigrants from Europe who lived around black urban ghettos. With each and every one of his target groups, Nixon engaged in an effort to manufacture concern over “law and order,” itself an assemblage of issues through which he hoped to improve his leadership image in a dual sense: strength of purpose and attentiveness to public will. Unlike what is commonly assumed, Nixon’s “law and order” ploys were limited in their success.

Network Flow of Campaign Discourses and News Frames: The Changing Fortunes of Twitter/X as a Conduit for Frame-Building

ABSTRACT Periodic changes continue to impact the fortunes of Twitter as a political communication and news-sharing platform, particularly among diverse individual and institutional African users. Yet few studies provide empirical insights into Twitter’s changing role in campaign communication and its influence on news frame-building across the region, mainly in Nigeria. This study bridges the gap by analysing n = 763 tweets to determine how the political campaign discourse strategies in the tweeting activities of two prominent candidates influenced the news frame-building practices of mainstream newspapers during the four months of Nigeria’s 2019 presidential campaign. Findings affirm that the Twittersphere served as a playground where candidates deployed diverse discourse frames correlating with political agendas to show their intent to integrate Twitter into their campaign communication strategies. Moreover, the candidates’ tweets contribute to the journalistic frame-building process, although the newspapers tend to focus more on frame-setting than frame-sending due to the dynamic nature of journalistic content production across individual news outlets.

Landscaping gender, sexuality, and hope in the 2022 Philippine presidential elections

Abstract This paper investigates the Linguistic Landscape (LL) of Leni Robredo’s 2022 presidential campaign rallies in the Philippines and explores the role of gender and sexuality in constructing prefigurative spaces within the offline-online nexus. Through artifacts used during the campaign, the paper examines how Robredo supporters utilize semiotic resources and intertextual references from popular and meme culture as well as LGBTQ+ media to adopt stances vis-à-vis gender and sexuality. The paper suggests that the aggregation of these stances elicit affects that facilitate a prefigurative genderscape where participants enact an ethos of hope. While these practices cannot completely transcend entrenched forms of power (e.g., macho populism and dynastic democracy), they materialize a potential future characterized by a people-driven movement. The paper proposes a future direction for LL studies: engaging prefigurative politics in the examination of the emergent spaces that respond to increasing precarity and sociopolitical upheavals.

“We’re not as great as we used to be”: Perceived national status threat and the desire for strong leaders

We examined whether perceived national status threat—i.e., perceiving that one’s country’s status on the international scene is in decline—predicts increased desire for a strong conservative or progressive leader through greater national nostalgia and collective angst. A pilot study on strong leaders’ speeches from the 2017 French presidential election campaign first revealed that both conservative and progressive strong leaders use the status threat narrative, albeit in another form. In four quantitative surveys conducted across France, Malaysia and Chile, we then found that national status threat predicted increased desire for both conservative and progressive strong leaders. In France and Chile, but not Malaysia, the underlying path was contingent on the type of leader, such that nostalgia predicted increased desire for a conservative but not a progressive strong leader. Although correlational, our data suggest that decline narratives might provide a fertile ground for the desire for diverse forms of strong leadership.

Face-work in North American Presidential Debates: A Corpus-based Multi-theoretical Approach

As inherently confrontational contexts, North American presidential debates compel politicians to engage in image restoration efforts when targeted by a face-threatening act. Since the first televised debates in 1960, presidential campaigns have become increasingly mediatized and the need to defend against face-damage has increased, for there is still a need to uphold a favorable presidential image despite the prominence of impoliteness in these events. Although a longstanding tradition, there is still no framework for the combined analysis of threatening and defensive face-work in presidential debates. This paper presents a corpus-based three-fold analysis blending qualitative, quantitative and statistical methodologies to observe the evolution of facework in this context, focusing on impoliteness and image restoration manifestations. The selected corpus comprises the presidential debates of seven North American elections —one per decade—, providing an overview of the evolution of both phenomena. This methodology also allows insight into the frequency of specific strategies. The analysis adopts a multi-theoretical approach to demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating Impoliteness theory (Culpeper, 1996) and Image restoration theory (Benoit and Wells, 1996) to create a comprehensive new approach to the study of face-work in presidential debates. Supported by results from Pearson’s Chi-square test, the combination of these theories was shown to be possible. The recurrence of attack-defense pairings integrating strategies from both theories also pointed to their necessary combination. While the recent incorporation of a female presidential candidate hinted at the potential gender variation of face-work in the debates, further data is needed to obtain conclusive results.