The first presidential debate of the 2024 election is on Thursday, June 27, featuring President Joe Biden and former President Trump. Early on, the majority of Americans did not want these two candidates, and the majority of Americans remain dissatisfied with their choices.
According to a recent PBS poll, 55% of registered voters said they aren’t happy with the two major political parties’ 2024 presidential candidates.
In a recent Reuters poll, 20% of voters said they are either undecided, voting third party or won’t vote at all due to their dissatisfaction with Biden and Trump.
There is a group of voters known as “double haters.” These voters would hate it if either Trump or Biden wins the presidency. In six swing states, nearly 1 in 5 voters are double haters. That means how they vote could be a deciding factor in the election.
From the perspective of the double haters, this election is a choice between what they see as “the lesser of two evils.”
In response, both the Biden and Trump campaigns are looking to capitalize on the negative perceptions of their opponent. Ads from both camps are staying on the attack.
“Stoking the flames of division and hate, now he’s pouring gasoline,” Biden said of Trump in an ad referencing the Jan. 6 insurrection.
“Biden and the Democrats are the party of violence,” Trump said about Biden in an ad.
Another ad from Biden brought up Trump’s recent criminal trial, where he was found guilty on 34 felony counts.
“This election is between a convicted criminal and a president fighting for your family,” the ad for Biden said.
One ad from Trump highlights crimes committed by immigrants and blames Biden’s lack of action at the border for leading to the crimes.
“A murder on Grand Rapids southwest side yesterday,” the ad said. “He confessed that he committed the crime. Stop Biden’s border bloodbath.”
The ads also bring up controversial topics such as abortion, with Biden highlighting his pro-choice stance.
“Donald Trump doesn’t trust women,” Biden’s ad said. “I do.”
Trump attacked Biden’s impact on the economy with a focus on taxes. This is another key issue on voters’ minds, with tariffs being debated within the government now.
“The whole country is going to hell because of this guy,” Trump said in his ad.
The two candidates will meet on stage on June 27 and then again on Sept. 10. The results of the debates and the double haters reactions may have the election on the line.
