Tomorrow’s bus tour by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will be an opportunity for the two Democratic candidates to connect with voters in a more personal way.
Tomorrow’s bus tour through parts of Western Pennsylvania by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will be an opportunity for them to connect with voters in a more personal way that rallies at stadiums and other large venues can’t match.
Business leaders should take note of the efforts by the two running mates to inject a more personal touch into what’s become a frenetic race for the White House. Getting closer—literally—to their audiences can help politicians and corporate executives strengthen their image, credibility, and power of their messages.Creating An Image
Bus tours have important advantages and benefits for presidential and other candidates. They can help make politicians appear more approachable, relatable, and conversational then they would otherwise come across when giving speeches in auditoriums or sports arenas.
Campaign bus tours provide news organizations with good visuals that can result in more news coverage about candidates.
“Bus tours are a staple of [a] campaign season for good reason—in addition to being fun, serving as a rolling billboard and photo opportunity for the candidate or issue, they offer unparalleled immersion into a community or region,” Abbey Watson, who worked in the Obama administration and on different political campaigns, commented in an email message.
Visuals are as important on the campaign trail as a candidate’s message.
“The [bus[ format gives local voters and media significant exposure to the campaign and a great visual that stands apart from the usual rally set up,” Watson observed.‘Easier To Plan’
“Bus tours are a great way for candidates to tour the major media markets in a swing state. Bus tours can be logistically and financially easier to plan than a tour of a state using a plane. It’s easier for local candidates to ‘hop on’ and ‘hop off’ for a day or two as well,” Megan Sweeney, a former communications director of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, noted in an email interview.
