Politico politics bureau chief and senior political columnist Jonathan Martin sat down with award-winning broadcast journalist Mike Gousha Tuesday for a conversation about the upcoming presidential election in a talk hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Journalism Ethics and the Elections Research Center at Memorial Union.
After a short introduction from UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication Director Kathleen Bartzen Culver, Gousha asked Marin to analyze both presidential campaigns, interpret election outcomes and predict voting patterns.
Similar to the 2020 election in which Biden won Wisconsin by only about 20,000 votes, Martin said the “blue wall” swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania will determine the winner of the 2024 presidential election.
Martin told UW-Madison students they “have the fate of the world in your hands.”
Martin predicted an extremely close 2024 presidential election and said Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ campaign has been data-focused and analytical, while Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s focus has been more “macro” and straightforward. Republicans have focused on comparing Trump’s presidency to the Biden administration, Martin said.
Based on Martin’s experience covering elections throughout his career, Republicans used to be more data-driven, but the parties’ strategies have flipped over time.
“Republicans have become the pirate ship, Democrats have become the British royal navy,” Martin said.
Martin then spoke extensively on the “Trump era” that has dominated politics for the past decade, saying journalists have still not figured out how to properly cover Trump. Martin said those who are honest about Trump get criticized for bias, and those who attempt to “normalize” Trump are criticized for inaccuracy.
Martin also warned about possible rhetoric from Republicans surrounding election fraud that would most likely come with a Harris win.
Gousha ended by asking Martin what he enjoys most about covering elections.
“To me it's the best possible job …” Martin said. “Explaining to readers who we are as a country."
Ella Gorodetzky is the news manager of The Daily Cardinal.
