USA, elections 2024. Various sides of the American campaign. Journalists summarize

Radio 357 journalist Michał Żakowski, author of the program “On the roof of the world”, and TVN “Fakty” reporter Arleta Zalewska spoke in “Tak jest” on TVN24 about the events accompanying the US presidential campaign. At the end, they talked about, among other things, what they thought was the most surprising thing about the race for the White House.

Zalewska follows the competition between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump from Atlanta, Georgia, one of the seven so-called swing states that will be decisive for the voting results.

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– What was a huge surprise to me was the huge involvement of people – she said. She said that in Polish politics, at conventions, rallies and other meetings with candidates in the event of elections, there is a “great participation of politicians, MPs, candidates, activists and some group of supporters.” – Here everything is the opposite. A lot of people, ordinary people who come to meetings, either with the candidate or simply organizing themselves around staffs. And in every smallest town. This is really the strength of this campaign, she emphasized.

– It surprised me in the sense that I didn't expect the scale of this involvement to be so gigantic – she explained.

She mentioned that she had been to small towns, including: in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. – And in every town, whether smaller or larger, there is the candidate's staff with a whole arsenal of gadgets and prepared leaflets – she described.

Zalewska said that every day these people engage in activities and it is on them that “the campaign is built and they are the ones fighting for these voters.”

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Żakowski also said that “what is happening on the streets, these election committees, is something amazing.” He noted, however, that what surprised him was “the pace of this campaign and, at the same time, how quickly the events were forgotten.” – We had an attempt on Donald Trump, it was unsuccessful, but it would seem that the case has already been won for the Republican candidate – he said, recalling the July events at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. After this attack, commentators actually believed that the way Trump presented himself at that time would increase his chances of winning.

Meanwhile, now – he emphasized – “there is no issue”. – And yet at that time some people were already saying in a colloquialism: “it's all over, Donald Trump won the election” – recalled the international affairs expert.

– That's why it's worth waiting now, even until the last minute. Because these elections – and this is another surprise – are really a fight for several hundred or a thousand more voters – he argued.

The guests of the “Tak jest” program also talked about who Trump's voters are, including the well-established ones. – I talked to people who have billions of money and they are voting for Donald Trump. Why? Because certain types of values ​​are important to them. Can we equate this with being a follower? Not necessarily. It is also about being guided by some electoral logic, some approach to elections, Żakowski said.

He explained that “for them, the most important thing is, for example, the law that prohibits abortion.” – For example, in the southern United States we have a large number of evangelical Christians who are fundamental Christians – he pointed out. In his opinion, for such people, the controversy related to Trump “is in the background.”

– The first is what he will do regarding abortion. (…) This is a program that interests them, and I'm talking about 60-70 million people. And now the question is how they will join forces and support Donald Trump, he added.

Zalewska was asked what she hears from Trump-supporting voters about the controversy surrounding him. – They see them, they notice them and (…) they answer briefly: either that these are unjust accusations, that this is an attempt at revenge by the administration Joe Biden on Donald Trump, or simply the Democrats are a corrupt, mainstream, establishment party, focused on money and power – the reporter reported.

– When I say that Donald Trump is also a millionaire and has a lot of money, they say: but he earned it himself, and they earned it from politics – she added.

In her opinion, however, another group among the current Republican electorate may prove crucial. – I have heard the term “silent voters” several times. When they enter the polling station and are left alone with the ballot – I am still talking about those who voted for Republicans earlier – they will, as I hear here, put a cross in accordance with their conscience. And their conscience will not allow them to vote for Donald Trump, she added.

The program starts on Tuesday at 11 p.m. on TVN24 and TVN24 GO “Decision time. America chooses”. Throughout the night, we will be reporting on events related to the US presidential election.