Staff Reports
The Harris campaign appears to be taking a trip down memory lane, reviving the failed online strategy from her 2020 bid for the presidency. As the Vice President taps into trendy memes and marketing gimmicks, many are left scratching their heads as to why they’re diving back into the shallow end of the pool that previously drowned her campaign ambitions. The new twist involves the introduction of a special camo hat to target both the young, socially savvy crowd and a group that’s traditionally less enthused about the Democratic ticket: middle-aged hunting enthusiasts. Yes, nothing says “I’m one of you” like a stylish piece of headwear while discussing the latest progressive policies.
The Harris-Walz camo hat features bright orange text against a camouflage background, drawing a curious stylistic parallel to the designs of pop musician Chappell Roan. Roan’s camp might not be thrilled to find her brand linked with a political campaign, especially after some of her loyal fans were quick to express confusion about the appropriateness of the crossover. It’s almost like the campaign is trying to convince the hard-hitting hunters that the face of the party wears camo, too. Will that persuade them to leave their rifles at home and march to the polls instead?
Washington Examiner: Harris-Walz taps into wide range of Democratic coalition with camo hat https://t.co/MGoZntfGw6
— Ian’s Newsfeed 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHNewsFeed) August 8, 2024
Almost immediately, the campaign was able to move 3,000 of these hats for a cool million bucks, which is quite the haul for what is ultimately branded political merchandise. Still, one must wonder who is really putting their cash down on these hats. Considering that Governor Tim Walz, who probably wears camo more often than he wears a suit, has a track record of winning fewer rural votes than President Biden himself, it seems likely that those buying up these hats are not exactly the hearty white-tailed deer hunters of the Midwest.
In another somewhat desperate attempt to engage the youth vote, the campaign has also leaned heavily on pop culture references. The Harris camp reportedly embraced the influence of hit albums like Charli XCX’s “Brat” album, creating merchandise that channels a certain edgy aesthetic. Not to be outdone, Harris fans took to social media with mashups featuring the Vice President layered over the catchy tracks, supposedly winning social media brownie points. This kind of meme-centric marketing can be engaging, but it’s difficult to stand behind policies when the backdrop is a fleeting summer anthem.
In a political context that increasingly prioritizes celebrity appeal over substantive conversation about issues, the Harris campaign may indeed be letting memes and trends make up for their lack of a solid message. Although the team seems giddy about this pop-cultural strategy, there are dissenting views, especially from those like Roan, who haven’t evidenced the same enthusiasm for the party’s choices, notably regarding international conflicts. If the campaign aims to cocoon itself in the feel-good vibes of pop culture, it might have to face the reality that contemporary politics requires a little more backbone than freshly pressed merchandise and topical references.
