With less than a month before November 5th, Michael Barbaro sits down with Time’s journalists Nate Cohn, Maggie Haberman, and Astead Herndon to discuss who the candidates are focused on and speaking to, from Harris’ recent media blitz to Trump’s focus on young men, and how those strategies are being reflected in the polls and in the eyes of voters. Less than a month before Election Day, which voters matter most to the Harris and Trump campaigns? Times journalists Michael Barbaro, Nate Cohn, Maggie Haberman, and Astead Herndon discuss the latest in the presidential race.
Lesson Objectives
- Understand the current state of the 2024 presidential race
- Analyze the campaign strategies of Harris and Trump
- Identify key voter demographics targeted by each campaign
- Evaluate the effectiveness of campaign strategies using poll data
Introduction
- Brief overview of the 2024 presidential election
- Introduction of candidates: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump
- Importance of the final month before Election Day
Think-Pair-Share: Students reflect on what they know about the current election, then discuss with a partner before sharing with the class.
Video Analysis: “The Daily” Podcast Episode
- Watch the video: “Who Are the Candidates Focused On? | The Daily”
- Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP4IqT4t4aw
Video Discussion Questions:
- What key points do the journalists highlight about each campaign’s strategy?
- How does the video’s analysis compare to your initial understanding of the race?
- What new insights does the video provide about voter demographics?
Small Group Analysis: Divide the class into groups to discuss the video content and prepare short presentations on different aspects (e.g., Harris’ strategy, Trump’s strategy, key voter groups, media coverage).
Campaign Strategies
Harris Campaign
- Discuss Harris’ recent media blitz
- Analyze the target audience and messaging
Trump Campaign
- Examine Trump’s focus on young men
- Discuss the rationale behind this strategy
Jigsaw Activity: Divide class into groups, each focusing on a specific aspect of a campaign strategy. Groups then mix to share their expertise.
Key Voter Demographics
- Identify crucial voter groups for each campaign
- Discuss the importance of these demographics in swing states
Carousel Brainstorming: Set up stations around the room for different voter demographics. Groups rotate, adding ideas at each station.
Polling Analysis
- Review recent poll data
- Analyze how campaign strategies are reflected in the polls
- Discuss potential impact on voter perception
Data Interpretation Groups: Provide groups with different poll data sets. Each group analyzes and presents their findings to the class.
Voter Perspectives
- Examine how voters are responding to campaign strategies
- Discuss any shifts in voter sentiment or preferences
Role-Play Debate: Assign students roles as different voter types. Conduct a mock debate on campaign issues from these perspectives.
Group Discussion
- Divide the class into small groups
- Ask each group to discuss and present:
- Which campaign strategy they find more effective and why
- What other voter groups the campaigns should focus on
Gallery Walk: Groups create posters summarizing their discussions. Students then walk around, viewing and commenting on other groups’ work.
Conclusion
- Summarize key points
- Discuss the potential impact of the final month’s campaigning on the election outcome
Exit Ticket: Students write a brief reflection on the most important thing they learned and one question they still have.
Assessment
- Assign a short essay (500 words) analyzing one campaign’s strategy and its effectiveness, due next class
Peer Review: In the next class, students exchange essays for peer feedback before final submission.
