In a notable shift in campaign strategy, Democratic leaders Tim Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris have begun emphasizing crowd sizes at their rallies, a tactic long associated with former President Donald Trump. This approach marks a departure from previous Democratic campaigns and signals a new phase in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
At a recent rally in suburban Phoenix, Walz highlighted the attendance figures from several Democratic events, including a 10,000-person gathering in Philadelphia and a similar turnout in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The governor particularly emphasized a Detroit rally, describing it as "the largest crowd of the campaign." Harris, standing beside him, added a lighthearted jab at Trump's well-known fixation on audience numbers.
This focus on crowd sizes is not without precedent in American politics. Trump has consistently used attendance figures as a measure of his popularity and support. He famously claimed that his inauguration in January 2017 drew "the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration," although this assertion was later disproven. In fact, the largest recorded inauguration crowd was for Barack Obama's first term in 2009, with an estimated 1.8 million attendees.
The Trump campaign has responded to the Democrats' new strategy with skepticism. Campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt dismissed the Democrats' interest in crowd sizes, suggesting that the use of celebrity performances at some rallies amounts to "bribery." Trump himself has continued to boast about his rally attendance, claiming to have spoken to "the biggest crowds" and even suggesting that his January 6, 2021 speech in Washington drew more people than Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.
"I've spoken to the biggest crowds. Nobody's spoken to crowds bigger than me."
The debate over crowd sizes extends beyond the candidates themselves. Supporters on both sides have weighed in, with Trump backers attributing large Democratic turnouts to media manipulation, while Harris supporters see the crowds as a sign of genuine enthusiasm for the campaign.
This renewed focus on rally attendance comes at a time when the political landscape is shifting. Harris, as the first woman, African American, and Asian American vice president in U.S. history, has brought new energy to the Democratic ticket. Meanwhile, Trump continues to maintain a loyal base of supporters, including the so-called "Front Row Joes" who attend multiple rallies.
As the 2024 election approaches, both campaigns are likely to continue emphasizing their ability to draw large crowds as a measure of support. However, political analysts caution that rally attendance does not necessarily translate to electoral success, and that factors such as policy positions, voter turnout, and performance in battleground states will ultimately determine the outcome.