It's a Sprint, Not a Marathon...

Plus, Breaking News: Walz Releases First Ad -- SEE IT HERE!!!

Breaking News: Tim Walz Sprints Out of the Gate

Hold onto your hats, folks! We're interrupting our regularly scheduled programming to bring you some breaking news.

Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz has just released his first campaign ad, and we've got the scoop. This isn't just any ad – it's the opening introduction to a candidate who is going to become familiar to Americans in a big way over the coming weeks.

What does this messaging mean for the Harris-Walz ticket? How will it shape the narrative in these crucial early days? We'll be diving deep into this ad and its implications in our next full issue, but for now, let's just say the race has officially kicked into high gear.

Please share your thoughts below. I want to know what YOU think.

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The Race is On: Sprinting Towards Election Day

As the world's eyes turn to the Olympic spectacle unfolding every four years, another quadrennial event is on 🔥🔥 here at home.

The starting blocks are set, and the runners are taking their marks in what promises to be one of the most intense political sprints in recent memory.

With Vice President Kamala Harris's selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, the field is now complete. The candidates are lined up, poised for action, waiting for that metaphorical starting gun to fire.

3... 2... 1... And they're off!

Unlike the marathon of traditional campaign seasons, this year's race to the White House is shaping up to be a 90-day dash to the finish line. In a recent interview, I characterized this election as "a sprint, not a marathon," and with just over three months until Election Day, that assessment seems more apt than ever.

As we watch these candidates go for the gold, one thing is certain: every second counts, every move matters, and the stakes couldn't be higher.

A New Phase Begins

We're still recovering from what was the most intense 30-day period in modern political history, but one thing is clear: it’s a whole new ballgame. It's like someone hit the reset button on the entire race.

While there's no shortage of news coverage on these massive changes, it's time for Ctrl+Alt+Persuade to return to its core focus. In the coming weeks, we'll be diving extra deep into our usual analysis of political ads, campaign strategies, and media spends. It’s time to go back to the hard data and expert analysis you've come to expect from us.

But just to get us all back on track, here are my "top 5" ways the race has changed since June 27th.

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Five Ways the 2024 Election Landscape Has Shifted

#1. The Harris Effect: A New Hive in Town?

Not since 2008, and the Obama campaign, have we seen a wave of support like what Kamala Harris is experiencing. Is it a true and lasting phenomenon, or will her appeal ebb and flow as the campaign regains its rhythm?

Democratic strategist David Axelrod has caught some flack for claiming that the Harris momentum is the result of “irrational exuberance” on the part of Democrats, but he may not be far off. Campaigns have a way of adjusting over time, and we are primed to see hundreds of millions spent on attack ads from Team Trump over the next few months. There will also be some

That said — if candidate Trump can’t maintain some level of discipline (haven’t we heard that before?) the Harris wave will continue to gather momentum as voters are reminded of the chaos surrounding his candidacy, as well as his presidency.

Always worth a look at Nate Silver and his projections, but take some advice from a pro: let this stuff settle, especially until after the Veepstakes conclude and the Dem Convention happens later this month.

If we can say anything about this race so far — it don’t pay to predict the unpredictable. 🔮

Just a friendly reminder that as of August 1st, we've introduced a paid subscription model for Ctrl+Alt+Persuade. This change allows us to deliver even more in-depth content and exclusive features to help you navigate the world of political advertising and get real, no-spin information on the most important election in our lifetime.

For $8 a month, paid subscribers get twice-weekly all-access posts, exclusive interviews, weekly chat sessions, monthly deep-dive reports, weekly audio briefings, and access to a members-only comments section. While we'll still offer some free content, we hope you'll consider joining us as a paid subscriber to get the full Ctrl+Alt+Persuade experience and stay ahead of the game in this crucial election year. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps us continue providing high-quality analysis and insights.