Former Kamala Harris speech writer on the power of social media

1News Reporters 1News Reporters | 07-26 08:20

Kamala Harris has been in the running for US President for just four days – but her rise in popularity online has been meteoric.

Memes and celebrity endorsements have set the tone for her campaign, and Harris is leaning into it.

Her clipped up speeches and dances from her past are now the face of her bid for election.

The campaign X (formerly Twitter) account, @KamalaHQ, is splashed with neon green following the endorsement of pop-star Charli XCX, a play on her new viral album's simplistic cover.

ADVERTISEMENT

Comment sections on Harris' accounts are flooded with coconuts, a reference to her now-viral line: "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?"

The online appeal has re-energised the Vice President's Democratic Party..

Former Harris speech writer Gavin Reynolds told Breakfast this is huge for the campaign: "Before Joe Biden stepped aside, they were really struggling with younger voters, and I think the President's age had a lot to do with that."

Reynolds said Harris, who is 59 years old, is resonating much more with a younger audience.

This screenshot from a viral remix shows Harris speaking over a Charli XCX song from the album Brat, which features a simplistic neon green cover. (Source: Screenshot)

"I think she is really smart to be leaning into this social media craze because where are young people these days? They're online, they're on social media. They don't get their news from the same place that older voters do."

Reynolds said young voters generally want to "beat Donald Trump" in the US election this November.

ADVERTISEMENT

"There's some really big issues that resonate with young voters right now.

"That's bringing down the cost of living, fighting the climate crisis, bringing about an end to the war in the Middle East," he said.

"The Vice President has got the young voters' attention, now she's got to build on that, get out there in person to the community... and that definitely includes young voters."

Reynolds said Harris is one of the most effective communicators the US has had in politics.

"Take an issue like reproductive freedom. Right now that freedom is under attack," he said.

"If you hear the Vice President talk about the issue, she talks about it from the standpoint of freedom, that women ought to have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, not the government telling them what to do."

More on this topic

Jennifer Aniston blasts JD Vance after 'childless cat lady' dig

Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance said women like Kamala Harris are "childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives".

9:27am

Politics and parenting: Do female leaders face a double standard?

Attacks around Kamala Harris' parenthood status have reignited debate that female politicians can be judged in ways their male peers are not.

5:30am

1:09

Netanyahu meets with Biden and Harris at crucial moment

Biden greeted Netanyahu in the Oval Office, where the Israeli leader thanked the US president for his service.

6:52am

Reynolds said he thinks this type of messaging not only resonates with progressive voters who already feel this way, but also Americans who are more moderate or swing voters who agree with the overall notion of freedom.

ADVERTISEMENT

In a climate where everything is moving "very quickly", Reynolds said he has seen polls which show Harris ahead of where President Biden was polling, showing she resonates among critical voting blocks such as young and Black voters.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.


ALSO READ

Ocean Conservation Gains Strong Support from the Blockchain Market through BOC

The Importance of Marine EcosystemsCarbon Sink: The ocean is one of the Earth's most vital carbon si...

Pakistani tech firms sign major agreements at Dubai’s GITEX exhibition

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and exhibitors at the GITEX exhibition in Dubai...

SBP reserves rise above $11b after 2-1/2 years

KARACHI: Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), surged past...

FBR halts chasing shadows

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday delayed the implementation of its initiative aimed at checking...

Oil industry denounces restrictive fuel pricing

ISLAMABAD: The oil industry has aired serious concern over what it says is restrictive pricing of mo...

Benches at Auckland park removed after indecent acts, objects thrown

Two park benches at a popular sports park in south Auckland will be removed after complaints of anti...