The 538 Politics podcast is launching a new mini-series titled “Campaign Throwback,” in which they revisit political wisdom from past campaigns. The first episode of the series takes a closer look at campaign tropes and their impact on elections.
The phrase “it’s the economy, stupid” is the focus of the first episode. This saying dates back to Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, when James Carville, Clinton’s chief strategist, emphasized three key messages for the staff to remember: 1) Change versus more of the same, 2) The economy, stupid, and 3) Don’t forget about healthcare. The phrase became well-known and was featured in a documentary called “The War Room.”
In this episode, listeners will examine the accuracy of the phrase and its impact on past campaigns. They will explore whether economic issues truly drive voter behavior and decision-making during elections. To hear more insights on this topic and listen to the full episode, you can find it on your preferred podcast platform.