Robert E. Denton, Jr. is the W. Thomas Rice Chair Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Communication at Virginia Tech University, where he previously served as the Founding Director of the School of Communication and of the Rice Center for Leader Development. Denton has authored or edited 33 books, many in multiple editions, focusing on political communication and leadership.

• About the Contributors xvAcknowledgments xxiPreface xxiiiSection 1: Political Campaign Communication In the 2024 Presidential Campaign 1Chapter 1: Setting the Stage for 2024: A Tale of Three Incumbencies 3Craig Allen Smith Copyrighted MaterialPresumption and Incumbency 4Incumbency in 2024 6Biden: The Actual Incumbent 7Trump: The Challenging Incumbent 12Harris: The Heir Incumbent 16Conclusions 26End Notes 28Chapter 2: Getting on Stage: Surfacing for 2024 35Craig Allen SmithSurfacing in the Early Years 36Surfacing Since the 1970s: Binding Primaries 38The Surfacing Landscape Evolves: 1972 versus 2024 41Trent’s Theory of Surfacing 43Establishing Expectations of Candidates 44Determining Front Runners or Serious Contenders 44Important Issues or Themes Emerge 45Surfacing Metrics 46The Aspiring Democrats 48The Aspiring Republicans 51The Trump Critics 52The Newbies 52The Contenders 53The Republican Debates 55The First Republican Debate 56The Second Republican Debate 59The Final Three Debates 60Summary 61Issue Surfacing for 2024 62Conclusions 63End Notes 65Chapter 3: The 2024 Political Party Conventions: Contexts, Rhetoric, and Curiosities 71Theodore F. SheckelsThe Death of a Genre 73Media Reversal 77Agenda 79The Republicans 80The Democrats 82Late Twists 85Curiosities 87Republicans 87Democrats 88Both Parties 89The Vice- Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speeches 89The Candidates’ Families 90The Music 91Conclusion 92End Notes 96Chapter 4: Presidential Debates 2024 101Benjamin VothPresidential Debates and Election 2020 102CNN 2023 Town Hall with Trump 104Republican Presidential Primary Debates 2024 105The Critical June 27th Debate 107The Harris and Trump Debate 111October 1st Vice- Presidential Debate 114Did the Debates Matter for the Result of the Election? 115The Future of Presidential Debates in 2028 116End Notes 119Chapter 5: Televised Political Advertising in the 2024 Presidential Election 125Scott W. Dunn and John C. TedescoAdvertising and Spending 128Harris and Democratic Ads 132Biden Ads 132Harris Ads 134Contrasts between Trump and Harris 134Issue Ads: Abortion and the Economy 136Ads from Outside Groups/Super PACs 138Trump and Republican Ads 139Comparisons between Trump and Harris and Harris and Biden 140Issue Ads: Immigration, Inflation, and Taxation 142Ads from Outside Groups/Super PACs 144Conclusion 148End Notes 149Chapter 6: The 2024 Presidential Media Campaign 157Dan Schill and John Allen HendricksThe 2024 Media and Politics Ecosystem 162Digital and Social Media Platforms 167X/Twitter 170Facebook and Threads 171YouTube 171TikTok 172Podcasts 173Snapchat 175The Influence of Celebrities, Influencers, and Pop Culture 175Communication Technology, Misinformation, and Artificial Intelligence 178The 2024 Kamala Harris Social Media Campaign 181X 183Facebook, Instagram, and Threads 184Snapchat 185YouTube 186TikTok 187Podcasts 187Traditional Media 190The 2024 Donald Trump Social Media Campaign 192Truth Social 198Facebook 199TikTok 200Podcasts 201Conclusion 202End Notes 203Chapter 7: From Party Conventions to Election Day: Campaign 2024 in Editorial Cartoons 219Natalia MielczarekEditorial Cartoons and American Politics 221Cartoon Dataset, Themes, and Visual Rhetoric 224Visual Themes in Campaign 2024 at a Glance 225Visual Construction of the “Evil, Hateful and Dangerous Donald Trump” Theme 227Visual Construction of the “Dumb, Harmful and Indecisive Kamala Harris” Theme 233Visual Construction of Four Episodic Themes 237“Excitement over Kamala Harris’s Candidacy” Theme 237“JD Vance as a Dangerous VP Choice” Theme 239“Joe Biden Pushed Out of the Presidential Race” 241“Tim Walz as a Weak VP Pick” 243Visual Rhetoric, Narrative Arcs, and Campaign 2024 245Falling Action, Election Day, and Resolution 248End Notes 250Section 2: Studies of Communication in The 2024 Presidential Campaign 255Chapter 8: Impact of Crisis on Candidate Branding in the 2024 Presidential Election 257Lisa M. Burns and Hilary Fussell SiscoPolitical Branding 258Crisis Management and Rebranding 263Campaign Chaos 265Impact of Crisis on Harris Brand 268Impact of Crisis on Trump’s Brand 274Conclusion 279End Notes 281Chapter 9: AI- Generated Imagery in the 2024 Presidential Election: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Potential to Foster Positive Engagement in Future Elections 291Bingbing Zhang and David D. PerlmutterDefinition of AI- Generated Imagery 293The Role of AI- Generated Imagery in Presidential Elections: An Overview 294Impact of AI- Generated Imagery on Voters’ Perceptions 295Ways to Combat AI- Generated Misinformation/Disinformation 296“It’s Not All Bad”: Broader Context and Future Prospects for Research and Practice 297Conclusion 299End Notes 300Chapter 10: The Tangled Webs They Weave: An Exploration of Interorganizational Connections in the Most Unprecedented Presidential Campaign in History 307Michele Rees EdwardsAn Unprecedented Campaign 309Interorganizational Communication Theory 311Organizations Involved in a Presidential Election 313Governmental Organizations 314Governmental Organizations with Legally Defined Roles in Campaigns and Elections 314Governmental Organizations That Are Headed by Presidential Appointees 315Nongovernmental Organizations 316For-Profit Organizations with Connections to Politics 318Interorganizational Connections in the 2024 Presidential Campaign 319Connections Involving Media 319Connections Involving the Two Assassination Attempts 323July 13, 2024 323September 15, 2024 325Connections Involving Former Democrats Who Endorsed Trump 327Conclusion 331End Notes 332Chapter 11: Saturday Night Live and Political Humor as Argument in Presidential Campaign 2024 337Benjamin VothThe History of SNL 340SNL in Election 2024 344The Al Smith Dinner on October 17, 2024 345The Comic Conclusion of Presidential Election 2024 346End Notes 348Chapter 12: Campaign Finance and Its Impact on the 2024 Presidential Campaign 351Cayce MyersCampaign Finances and Their Impact on Presidential Elections 354Democratic Fundraising Pre- Convention: From Biden to Harris 360Pre- general Republican Fundraising: A Trump Resurgence 363Trump versus Harris: Campaign Fundraising Post- Convention 366Does Money Matter in Campaigns? Three Lessons from Election 2024 370End Notes 371Index 375

Robert E. Denton, Jr. is the W. Thomas Rice Chair Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Communication at Virginia Tech University, where he previously served as the Founding Director of the School of Communication and of the Rice Center for Leader Development. Denton has authored or edited 33 books, many in multiple editions, focusing on political communication and leadership.

• About the Contributors xvAcknowledgments xxiPreface xxiiiSection 1: Political Campaign Communication In the 2024 Presidential Campaign 1Chapter 1: Setting the Stage for 2024: A Tale of Three Incumbencies 3Craig Allen Smith Copyrighted MaterialPresumption and Incumbency 4Incumbency in 2024 6Biden: The Actual Incumbent 7Trump: The Challenging Incumbent 12Harris: The Heir Incumbent 16Conclusions 26End Notes 28Chapter 2: Getting on Stage: Surfacing for 2024 35Craig Allen SmithSurfacing in the Early Years 36Surfacing Since the 1970s: Binding Primaries 38The Surfacing Landscape Evolves: 1972 versus 2024 41Trent’s Theory of Surfacing 43Establishing Expectations of Candidates 44Determining Front Runners or Serious Contenders 44Important Issues or Themes Emerge 45Surfacing Metrics 46The Aspiring Democrats 48The Aspiring Republicans 51The Trump Critics 52The Newbies 52The Contenders 53The Republican Debates 55The First Republican Debate 56The Second Republican Debate 59The Final Three Debates 60Summary 61Issue Surfacing for 2024 62Conclusions 63End Notes 65Chapter 3: The 2024 Political Party Conventions: Contexts, Rhetoric, and Curiosities 71Theodore F. SheckelsThe Death of a Genre 73Media Reversal 77Agenda 79The Republicans 80The Democrats 82Late Twists 85Curiosities 87Republicans 87Democrats 88Both Parties 89The Vice- Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speeches 89The Candidates’ Families 90The Music 91Conclusion 92End Notes 96Chapter 4: Presidential Debates 2024 101Benjamin VothPresidential Debates and Election 2020 102CNN 2023 Town Hall with Trump 104Republican Presidential Primary Debates 2024 105The Critical June 27th Debate 107The Harris and Trump Debate 111October 1st Vice- Presidential Debate 114Did the Debates Matter for the Result of the Election? 115The Future of Presidential Debates in 2028 116End Notes 119Chapter 5: Televised Political Advertising in the 2024 Presidential Election 125Scott W. Dunn and John C. TedescoAdvertising and Spending 128Harris and Democratic Ads 132Biden Ads 132Harris Ads 134Contrasts between Trump and Harris 134Issue Ads: Abortion and the Economy 136Ads from Outside Groups/Super PACs 138Trump and Republican Ads 139Comparisons between Trump and Harris and Harris and Biden 140Issue Ads: Immigration, Inflation, and Taxation 142Ads from Outside Groups/Super PACs 144Conclusion 148End Notes 149Chapter 6: The 2024 Presidential Media Campaign 157Dan Schill and John Allen HendricksThe 2024 Media and Politics Ecosystem 162Digital and Social Media Platforms 167X/Twitter 170Facebook and Threads 171YouTube 171TikTok 172Podcasts 173Snapchat 175The Influence of Celebrities, Influencers, and Pop Culture 175Communication Technology, Misinformation, and Artificial Intelligence 178The 2024 Kamala Harris Social Media Campaign 181X 183Facebook, Instagram, and Threads 184Snapchat 185YouTube 186TikTok 187Podcasts 187Traditional Media 190The 2024 Donald Trump Social Media Campaign 192Truth Social 198Facebook 199TikTok 200Podcasts 201Conclusion 202End Notes 203Chapter 7: From Party Conventions to Election Day: Campaign 2024 in Editorial Cartoons 219Natalia MielczarekEditorial Cartoons and American Politics 221Cartoon Dataset, Themes, and Visual Rhetoric 224Visual Themes in Campaign 2024 at a Glance 225Visual Construction of the “Evil, Hateful and Dangerous Donald Trump” Theme 227Visual Construction of the “Dumb, Harmful and Indecisive Kamala Harris” Theme 233Visual Construction of Four Episodic Themes 237“Excitement over Kamala Harris’s Candidacy” Theme 237“JD Vance as a Dangerous VP Choice” Theme 239“Joe Biden Pushed Out of the Presidential Race” 241“Tim Walz as a Weak VP Pick” 243Visual Rhetoric, Narrative Arcs, and Campaign 2024 245Falling Action, Election Day, and Resolution 248End Notes 250Section 2: Studies of Communication in The 2024 Presidential Campaign 255Chapter 8: Impact of Crisis on Candidate Branding in the 2024 Presidential Election 257Lisa M. Burns and Hilary Fussell SiscoPolitical Branding 258Crisis Management and Rebranding 263Campaign Chaos 265Impact of Crisis on Harris Brand 268Impact of Crisis on Trump’s Brand 274Conclusion 279End Notes 281Chapter 9: AI- Generated Imagery in the 2024 Presidential Election: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Potential to Foster Positive Engagement in Future Elections 291Bingbing Zhang and David D. PerlmutterDefinition of AI- Generated Imagery 293The Role of AI- Generated Imagery in Presidential Elections: An Overview 294Impact of AI- Generated Imagery on Voters’ Perceptions 295Ways to Combat AI- Generated Misinformation/Disinformation 296“It’s Not All Bad”: Broader Context and Future Prospects for Research and Practice 297Conclusion 299End Notes 300Chapter 10: The Tangled Webs They Weave: An Exploration of Interorganizational Connections in the Most Unprecedented Presidential Campaign in History 307Michele Rees EdwardsAn Unprecedented Campaign 309Interorganizational Communication Theory 311Organizations Involved in a Presidential Election 313Governmental Organizations 314Governmental Organizations with Legally Defined Roles in Campaigns and Elections 314Governmental Organizations That Are Headed by Presidential Appointees 315Nongovernmental Organizations 316For-Profit Organizations with Connections to Politics 318Interorganizational Connections in the 2024 Presidential Campaign 319Connections Involving Media 319Connections Involving the Two Assassination Attempts 323July 13, 2024 323September 15, 2024 325Connections Involving Former Democrats Who Endorsed Trump 327Conclusion 331End Notes 332Chapter 11: Saturday Night Live and Political Humor as Argument in Presidential Campaign 2024 337Benjamin VothThe History of SNL 340SNL in Election 2024 344The Al Smith Dinner on October 17, 2024 345The Comic Conclusion of Presidential Election 2024 346End Notes 348Chapter 12: Campaign Finance and Its Impact on the 2024 Presidential Campaign 351Cayce MyersCampaign Finances and Their Impact on Presidential Elections 354Democratic Fundraising Pre- Convention: From Biden to Harris 360Pre- general Republican Fundraising: A Trump Resurgence 363Trump versus Harris: Campaign Fundraising Post- Convention 366Does Money Matter in Campaigns? Three Lessons from Election 2024 370End Notes 371Index 375

Robert E. Denton, Jr. is the W. Thomas Rice Chair Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Communication at Virginia Tech University, where he previously served as the Founding Director of the School of Communication and of the Rice Center for Leader Development. Denton has authored or edited 33 books, many in multiple editions, focusing on political communication and leadership.

• About the Contributors xvAcknowledgments xxiPreface xxiiiSection 1: Political Campaign Communication In the 2024 Presidential Campaign 1Chapter 1: Setting the Stage for 2024: A Tale of Three Incumbencies 3Craig Allen Smith Copyrighted MaterialPresumption and Incumbency 4Incumbency in 2024 6Biden: The Actual Incumbent 7Trump: The Challenging Incumbent 12Harris: The Heir Incumbent 16Conclusions 26End Notes 28Chapter 2: Getting on Stage: Surfacing for 2024 35Craig Allen SmithSurfacing in the Early Years 36Surfacing Since the 1970s: Binding Primaries 38The Surfacing Landscape Evolves: 1972 versus 2024 41Trent’s Theory of Surfacing 43Establishing Expectations of Candidates 44Determining Front Runners or Serious Contenders 44Important Issues or Themes Emerge 45Surfacing Metrics 46The Aspiring Democrats 48The Aspiring Republicans 51The Trump Critics 52The Newbies 52The Contenders 53The Republican Debates 55The First Republican Debate 56The Second Republican Debate 59The Final Three Debates 60Summary 61Issue Surfacing for 2024 62Conclusions 63End Notes 65Chapter 3: The 2024 Political Party Conventions: Contexts, Rhetoric, and Curiosities 71Theodore F. SheckelsThe Death of a Genre 73Media Reversal 77Agenda 79The Republicans 80The Democrats 82Late Twists 85Curiosities 87Republicans 87Democrats 88Both Parties 89The Vice- Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speeches 89The Candidates’ Families 90The Music 91Conclusion 92End Notes 96Chapter 4: Presidential Debates 2024 101Benjamin VothPresidential Debates and Election 2020 102CNN 2023 Town Hall with Trump 104Republican Presidential Primary Debates 2024 105The Critical June 27th Debate 107The Harris and Trump Debate 111October 1st Vice- Presidential Debate 114Did the Debates Matter for the Result of the Election? 115The Future of Presidential Debates in 2028 116End Notes 119Chapter 5: Televised Political Advertising in the 2024 Presidential Election 125Scott W. Dunn and John C. TedescoAdvertising and Spending 128Harris and Democratic Ads 132Biden Ads 132Harris Ads 134Contrasts between Trump and Harris 134Issue Ads: Abortion and the Economy 136Ads from Outside Groups/Super PACs 138Trump and Republican Ads 139Comparisons between Trump and Harris and Harris and Biden 140Issue Ads: Immigration, Inflation, and Taxation 142Ads from Outside Groups/Super PACs 144Conclusion 148End Notes 149Chapter 6: The 2024 Presidential Media Campaign 157Dan Schill and John Allen HendricksThe 2024 Media and Politics Ecosystem 162Digital and Social Media Platforms 167X/Twitter 170Facebook and Threads 171YouTube 171TikTok 172Podcasts 173Snapchat 175The Influence of Celebrities, Influencers, and Pop Culture 175Communication Technology, Misinformation, and Artificial Intelligence 178The 2024 Kamala Harris Social Media Campaign 181X 183Facebook, Instagram, and Threads 184Snapchat 185YouTube 186TikTok 187Podcasts 187Traditional Media 190The 2024 Donald Trump Social Media Campaign 192Truth Social 198Facebook 199TikTok 200Podcasts 201Conclusion 202End Notes 203Chapter 7: From Party Conventions to Election Day: Campaign 2024 in Editorial Cartoons 219Natalia MielczarekEditorial Cartoons and American Politics 221Cartoon Dataset, Themes, and Visual Rhetoric 224Visual Themes in Campaign 2024 at a Glance 225Visual Construction of the “Evil, Hateful and Dangerous Donald Trump” Theme 227Visual Construction of the “Dumb, Harmful and Indecisive Kamala Harris” Theme 233Visual Construction of Four Episodic Themes 237“Excitement over Kamala Harris’s Candidacy” Theme 237“JD Vance as a Dangerous VP Choice” Theme 239“Joe Biden Pushed Out of the Presidential Race” 241“Tim Walz as a Weak VP Pick” 243Visual Rhetoric, Narrative Arcs, and Campaign 2024 245Falling Action, Election Day, and Resolution 248End Notes 250Section 2: Studies of Communication in The 2024 Presidential Campaign 255Chapter 8: Impact of Crisis on Candidate Branding in the 2024 Presidential Election 257Lisa M. Burns and Hilary Fussell SiscoPolitical Branding 258Crisis Management and Rebranding 263Campaign Chaos 265Impact of Crisis on Harris Brand 268Impact of Crisis on Trump’s Brand 274Conclusion 279End Notes 281Chapter 9: AI- Generated Imagery in the 2024 Presidential Election: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Potential to Foster Positive Engagement in Future Elections 291Bingbing Zhang and David D. PerlmutterDefinition of AI- Generated Imagery 293The Role of AI- Generated Imagery in Presidential Elections: An Overview 294Impact of AI- Generated Imagery on Voters’ Perceptions 295Ways to Combat AI- Generated Misinformation/Disinformation 296“It’s Not All Bad”: Broader Context and Future Prospects for Research and Practice 297Conclusion 299End Notes 300Chapter 10: The Tangled Webs They Weave: An Exploration of Interorganizational Connections in the Most Unprecedented Presidential Campaign in History 307Michele Rees EdwardsAn Unprecedented Campaign 309Interorganizational Communication Theory 311Organizations Involved in a Presidential Election 313Governmental Organizations 314Governmental Organizations with Legally Defined Roles in Campaigns and Elections 314Governmental Organizations That Are Headed by Presidential Appointees 315Nongovernmental Organizations 316For-Profit Organizations with Connections to Politics 318Interorganizational Connections in the 2024 Presidential Campaign 319Connections Involving Media 319Connections Involving the Two Assassination Attempts 323July 13, 2024 323September 15, 2024 325Connections Involving Former Democrats Who Endorsed Trump 327Conclusion 331End Notes 332Chapter 11: Saturday Night Live and Political Humor as Argument in Presidential Campaign 2024 337Benjamin VothThe History of SNL 340SNL in Election 2024 344The Al Smith Dinner on October 17, 2024 345The Comic Conclusion of Presidential Election 2024 346End Notes 348Chapter 12: Campaign Finance and Its Impact on the 2024 Presidential Campaign 351Cayce MyersCampaign Finances and Their Impact on Presidential Elections 354Democratic Fundraising Pre- Convention: From Biden to Harris 360Pre- general Republican Fundraising: A Trump Resurgence 363Trump versus Harris: Campaign Fundraising Post- Convention 366Does Money Matter in Campaigns? Three Lessons from Election 2024 370End Notes 371Index 375