Is the economy still the main focus?

In a new series titled “Campaign Throwback,” we are revisiting political wisdom from past campaigns. The first episode of this 538 Politics podcast mini-series explores the campaign trope “It’s the economy, stupid.” This saying originated during Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, where his chief strategist James Carville emphasized three main messages for the campaign staff: 1) Change vs. more of the same, 2) The economy, stupid, and 3) Don’t forget about healthcare. The second message, focusing on the economy, gained recognition in a 1993 documentary called “The War Room,” and has since become a staple in election analysis.

In the “Campaign Throwback” series, we will delve into popular campaign tropes from past elections, such as “soccer moms” or the question about which candidate you’d rather have a beer with. We aim to explore where these tropes originated, whether they were true at the time, and if they still hold relevance in today’s political landscape.

The concept of “It’s the economy, stupid” has been a significant factor in campaign strategies and messaging for decades. It highlights the importance of economic issues in shaping voters’ decisions and has served as a guiding principle for many political campaigns. This episode examines the accuracy and effectiveness of this trope in light of changing political dynamics and voter priorities.

To listen to the full episode on “It’s the economy, stupid” and explore other campaign tropes, tune in to the “Campaign Throwback” series on the 538 Politics podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. Join us as we revisit the timeless wisdom and insights from past campaigns that continue to influence the political landscape today.