President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio on September 29th, 2020. (Reuters)
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – “It’s a weird year, right?” said UW-Oshkosh Political Science Professor Dr. David Siemers. “It’s a weird year, and he’s not going to be in front of 100,000 people with Bruce Springsteen at the end of the campaign. ”
With exactly four weeks until the election, the race for the White House seems like it’s just getting weirder by the day. And with an election unlike just about any other, many wonder what the final month or so of the race will bring.
“If you believe the polls, Donald Trump is behind. But the election is still within striking distance,” Siemers said. “Joe Biden knows that he’s up by 7 or 8 percentage points. The polls are pretty consistent in that regard. But it doesn’t seem like Trump voters are shy to express their opinions in polls more than anyone else.”
However, Siemers says that slight edge isn’t something Biden should take for granted.
“He should try to finish strong and that, I think, doesn’t mean just playing out the string and waiting for the clock to tick down, but emphasizing his positive message that he can bring to the American people,” Siemers told WTAQ News. “The Trump news has sucked out all the oxygen in the room. But that’s not been a bad thing for the Biden campaign. In fact, the way that this is played out, they look at it as a gift…That suggests all the more that the Trump administration has to gain control of this narrative in a positive way, and that they have to force through Joe Biden to actually make the case that should become president of the United States.”
Even with the Trump administration fumbling with the delivery of a solid, continuous message regarding his COVID-19 diagnosis – Siemers thinks they can still make a push to put Biden on his heels.
“The whole team could not distinguish itself by not getting its information straight. So that’s become the story…It is a real problem that they can’t change the narrative for the next two weeks. Donald Trump will probably be holed up in the White House, quarantining,” Siemers said. “I don’t think that’s the story that they want. So to gain control of the narrative for the Trump people, it’s really critical right now be on the same page and have a positive story to tell.”
However, despite all of the advice and suggestions, last-ditch efforts on both sides are already too late to reach some voters.
“People are already voting, of course. Especially in Wisconsin. We’re one of the leading early voting states, so many people have cast their ballots,” Siemers said.
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