Managing Partner Matt Terrill Pens Op-Ed in Katie Couric Media
November 18, 2024
Matt Terrill, Managing Partner, Firehouse Strategies
In the weeks leading up to the November election, many articles were written about the seeming strength of the Harris campaign compared to Trump’s.
Reuters reported that Harris spent $270 million in September alone, compared to Trump’s $78 million. The New York Times reported that Harris had the biggest fundraising quarter in history, while Trump was raising significantly less than during his 2020 run. Numerous headlines also touted Harris’ ground game advantage, ad buy edge, and her many celebrity endorsements.
Many Democrats were shocked by Kamala Harris’ loss. She was, as far as they could tell, doing all the things needed to win. Yet it turns out they were looking at the wrong signals. Donald Trump’s victory has a lot to teach us about his remarkable coalition, the country itself, and what really matters in political campaigns.