Negotiating Power: Analysis of Communication Strategies in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Debates and Their Impact on Voter Perception

This research examines the negotiation strategies employed by the Democratic and Republican nominees during the 2024 U.S. presidential debates, exploring how these strategies align with the candidates’ communicative goals and how they are perceived by American voters. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzes debate transcripts alongside citizen feedback to assess the effectiveness of these strategies in influencing voter perceptions. The findings reveal significant differences in the rhetorical techniques used by the candidates, with Democratic nominees favoring positive politeness strategies aimed at fostering inclusivity, while Republican nominees utilized more direct, assertive tactics. Despite these differences, the study finds no significant correlation between voters' evaluations of candidates’ communication strategies and their voting preferences. This suggests that partisanship plays a more substantial role in shaping electoral outcomes than voters' perceptions of debate performance. The paper situates these findings within the context of recent political communication literature, contributing to the ongoing discussion of the role of communication strategies in a polarized political climate.