Staff Reports
Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan and the poster child for all things wacky in the Democratic Party, has decided to take a trip down slang lane in her latest social media stunt to promote Vice President Kamala Harris. In a video posted on X, Whitmer warned everyone that Donald Trump is “not chill,” which is a delightful addition to the long list of political terms that don’t really mean anything. This whole spectacle seems like a desperate attempt by the Democrats to grab the attention of younger voters, a demographic they believe is all about catchphrases and TikTok dances.
In her cringe-worthy effort, Whitmer declared that Harris’s campaign volunteers are “cooking with gas,” which feels more like an invitation to a cook-off than a political endorsement. The governor also made the bold proclamation that Harris is “giving the next president,” as if she’s unveiling a new line of kitchen appliances rather than discussing a serious election. Whitmer’s entire schtick seems aimed at making the Democratic ticket feel as trendy as avocado toast—a task no small feat for a party that regularly looks like it’s stuck in a 70s time warp.
Governor Whitmer attempted to be hip today. This is almost as bad as Kamala’s fake accents. 💀😬 pic.twitter.com/uwl6D2DGp8
— Heather Dow (@PatriotPostGirl) September 23, 2024
Both Trump and Harris are vying to win the hearts (and votes) of 18 to 29-year-olds, but each is deploying their unique approach. Harris has leaned heavily into the emotional issue of abortion access, which has been heavily beaten like a dead horse since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Meanwhile, Trump is going for the young male demographic by channeling his inner Joe Rogan. He’s found success appearing on various podcasts, including one hosted by the cerebral Lex Fridman and another with WWE’s Logan Paul—a strategic pivot from his previous disdain for TikTok, as he now has an account of his own. Talk about a turncoat!
Polling data from the Cook Political Report reveals that Harris has a slight edge over Trump among younger voters, holding a 54.4% to 39.7% lead. This is hardly an unassailable fortress, especially when considering that in 2020, President Biden had an even larger grip on the youth vote—perhaps suggesting that the shiny lures of the Democratic ticket may be losing some luster. It raises the question: is this the best they can do for the future generations?
On a brighter note, a recent poll from the New York Times and Siena College shows Trump leading Harris in key battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina. Each state is a critical part of his plan moving forward, and while Harris is busy “rizzing up” voters with vapid slang, Trump is playing to win. Democrats may want to ask themselves if a TikTok dance-off is really the best way to reach younger voters—or if perhaps it’s time to refresh their political playlist entirely.
