Why Trump Lost and How? A Rhetorical Explanation

Discovering why the 2020 election turned out as it did will, given complexities of American politics, take considerable time. how Trump lost and Biden won will longer. This article presents an initial foray in latter direction by subjecting rhetoric campaign to computerized language analysis via DICTION program. In doing so, this study is most recent outgrowth Campaign Mapping Project, begun at University Texas Austin 1995 designed produce comparative rhetorical data about presidential campaigns from 1948 present. The argument being made here that Donald making excessive use what Richard Hofstadter calls Paranoid Style. addition, exaggerated claims abstract unprovable conspiracies, all which seemed derivative voters worried their health jobs 2020. Joe Biden, contrast, stressed Commonality—the need for shared purpose during a dangerous dispiriting also spoke directly people, thereby taking page Trump’s own 2016 playbook. many ways, self-preoccupations him blind needs electorate, habit developed over course his presidency ultimately cost job.