A break down about polls, messaging, and the final days of the election

The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr are joined by John Rouleau and Julius Hernandez to break down the following:

00:01:30 - Celebrating Two Years of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky!

• Podcast Anniversary: Becky and Michael reflect on two years of the podcast, expressing gratitude for each other and the meaningful conversations they've shared with guests over time.

00:03:00 - Minnesota Polls: Contrasting Results

• Poll Analysis: The group discusses recent MinnPost and KSTP polls showing varying leads for Harris and Trump in Minnesota.
• Julius and John on Poll Accuracy: Julius supports the MinnPost poll, suggesting Harris has a solid lead, while John explains the challenges of polling methodology and voter turnout predictions.

00:10:00 - Gender-Based Voter Trends and Male Support for Trump

• Trump's Appeal to Male Voters: The discussion focuses on Trump's efforts to engage young men, mainly through media figures like Joe Rogan.
• Shift in Male Voter Support: Becky and Julius debate if Trump has seen a decline in male support, especially among younger and Black male voters.

00:15:00 - Reproductive Rights and Voter Motivation

• Impact of Abortion on Voter Decisions: The group explores how abortion remains a priority for both male and female voters, especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
• Conversations with Republican Men: Michael shares insights about Republicans supporting Harris-Walz due to their stance on reproductive rights.

00:20:00 - Geographic Voter Trends and Split-Ticket Voting in Minnesota

• Rural vs. Urban Voter Divide: Trump continues performing well in rural areas, while Harris leads in urban and suburban regions.
• Impact of Split-Ticket Voting: Becky and the panelists speculate that Minnesota voters may back Harris-Walz at the top of the ticket while voting for Republicans in legislative races.

00:31:00 - Suburban Voters and Legislative Control

• Suburban Swing Districts: The conversation shifts to the importance of suburban voters in deciding control of the Minnesota House and Senate.
• Voter Priorities: John and Julius highlight the frustration with polarized politics and the potential for moderates to push for legislative balance.

00:40:00 - Kamala Harris's CNN Town Hall Performance

• Town Hall Analysis: The panel reviews Kamala Harris' CNN Town Hall, praising her efforts but noting areas where the messaging could have been stronger.
• Challenges of Differentiating from Biden: Julius argues that Harris's campaign struggles with separating her identity from Biden's presidency while maintaining voter trust.

00:45:00 - Trump's Madison Square Garden Rally and Controversial Comments

• Event Criticism: The group discusses Trump's rally, criticizing its focus on inflammatory rhetoric and lack of meaningful outreach to undecided voters.
• Strategic Mistake: Michael points out that focusing on a base-only strategy this close to the election could limit Trump's ability to attract swing voters.

00:50:00 - Kamala Harris' Speech at the Ellipse

• Positive Message and Unity: Michael and Julius praise Harris' speech for its inclusive tone and focus on national unity.
• Comparison with Trump's Messaging: The panel contrasts Harris' coalition-building approach with Trump's divisive rhetoric.

01:00:00 - Double Standards in Media Coverage of Harris and Trump

• Media Bias Discussion: The panel debates whether the media holds Harris to a higher standard than Trump, citing differences in scrutiny.
• Public Perception of Candidates: Julius suggests that the double standard in coverage may affect voter perception and create additional challenges for Harris's campaign.

01:16:00 - Nikki Haley Criticizes Trump Campaign's Outreach to Women

• No Haley: Becky discusses Nikki Haley, sharing that Haley has not communicated with Trump since June and is waiting to be called to campaign for him. Scherr expresses shock that there has been no outreach to Haley,
• Haley Not Needed: Rouleau argues that Haley's support within the GOP is overstated, suggesting that while she is an eloquent spokesperson, her impact as a surrogate might be limited in a presidential race.

01:22:00 - Halloween and Michael Reads Mean Posts

• Halloween: The discussion shifts to everyone's excitement about Halloween.
• Michael Reads Means Posts: Michael reflects on the challenges of supporting candidates across party lines by reading mean comments he has received on social media.

01:30:00 - Closing Remarks and Reflections

• Anniversary Reflections: Becky and Michael thank the audience and guests for their support throughout the podcast's two years.
• Looking Ahead: The hosts tease future episodes and encourage listeners to stay engaged in the political process.

The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky will return with a new episode this week.