Handicapping the 2024 Elections: Political Analyst John Harwood On The MAXX Mainstage
October 15, 2024

The credit union advocacy cognoscenti know better than to take any election for granted. They’re watching the 2024 elections and preparing to advocate regardless of whether Trump or Harris is elected, which party controls Congress, and how many new state legislators are elected. But what’s the inside story, really?
We asked an expert! John Harwood, Tuesday’s MAXX keynote speaker has three decades of experience covering national politics and the economy for many of America’s most prestigious news organizations. Here are his takeaways:
- “We sit on a campaign that is a one- or two-point race everywhere…Clearly this is a race that could go either way.”
- “If Donald Trump wins the White House, it’s highly likely he will have a Republican House and Senate.”
- While historians will likely look upon Biden’s Presidency kindlier than some may expect, his performance in this summer’s debate with Trump “…shocked the Democratic party into action…all of a sudden Democrats had a reason to be optimistic” with Harris as their candidate.
Key issues that are impacting voters’ decisions include abortion; that saw globalization among women and college aged voters, and inflation. “People are not used to high interest rates in the current context,” Harwood said. “How you feel about the economy has been disrupted by inflation.”
Questions for our Keynote Speaker:
- Will we know the outcome on election night? Unlikely!
- Is there “one state” to watch? No, there are several key states. But if you could only focus on one “it would be Pennsylvania.”
- Do celebrity endorsements. such as Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris-Walz, make a difference? Historically not really, but Swift is at a different level of celebrity. “In a race this close, any small effects — a thousand things could impact the outcome.”
With an agenda of breakout sessions, advocacy trainings, and more on tap at MAXX this week, the bottom line is that credit unions will be prepared to advance policy regardless of the outcome.
Posted in Advocacy on the Move.