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naraburns  nihil supernum  18d ago (text post)   26902 thread views

U.S. Election (Day?) 2024 Megathread

With apologies to our many friends and posters outside the United States... it's time for another one of these! Culture war thread rules apply, and you are permitted to openly advocate for or against an issue or candidate on the ballot (if you clearly identify which ballot, and can do so without knocking down any strawmen along the way). "Small-scale" questions and answers are also permitted if you refrain from shitposting or being otherwise insulting to others here. Please keep the spirit of the law--this is a discussion forum!--carefully in mind.

If you're a U.S. citizen with voting rights, your polling place can reportedly be located here.

If you're still researching issues, Ballotpedia is usually reasonably helpful.

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Is there any proof that outraising and out funding helps campaigns ? In local elections sure. But once the national candidates are chosen. The media pretty much self-funds their preferred party. Who doesn't know about Kamala and Trump ? What does an extra dollar get you ?

Kamala was a horrible candidate. Everyone knew it. She lost. America has always voted for the more charismatic candidate, and wierdly 2020 biden did well on that front too. Kamala couldn't even place top 3 in the famously weak 2020 primaries (The whole Obama era chill grandpa routine worked well for Biden)

I hope this spurs a return to 'moderate' democrats. More Buttigieg, less AOC. Hope dems give up on their baffling support for free drug use, police abolishment and illegal immigration for good.

Is there any proof that outraising and out funding helps campaigns ?

Fundraising has a massive impact on campaigns. If Hilary Clinton had raised $200 million less, she would be President of the United States.

I think one of the most interesting lessons people often miss is that money in politics doesn't actually matter as much as most people think. People have the perception you can buy wins, and that's just... not true, broadly speaking. There's still plenty of room for more reform, but it's not a corrupt hellscape where only money talks.

With the priors a lot of people I talk to, and the cash advantage the Dems had pretty consistently, you would have seen a Harris victory.

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