Too early to start thinking about campaign slogans?

[LAS14]

I was struck when an interviewee on NPR (PBS??) reported asking his college class what Trump's campaign was about and everyone responded "Make America great again." No one could respond when he asked what Hillary's was. Now I know what Hillary's was, "Stronger Together." I thought it was great, but it obviously didn't grab people's attention. I admit I had to look up Obama's, but when I saw "Yes, we can!" I remembered that it made news stories in a way that "Stronger together" never did.

What is the secret of a riveting campaign slogan? I'm sorry to say that I think it may be more important than I had thought. Bringing change for the better everywhere she goes is a great attribute for a president, as far as I'm concerned, but it's not pointed enough to grab the modern attention span.

Ideas?

[Chasstev365]

1. Yeah, I got one!

Trump says Australia has better healthcare than the US.

"So much for making America great again!"

[LAS14]

3. EVERYONE has better health care than the U.S. nt

[myrna minx]

4. I believe it was John Nichols who said "Let's Make America American again!"

[PoliticAverse]

5. "Make America Sane Again!"? n/t

[Softail1]

6. Have to admit...

when I heard "stronger together"...my first thought was, "UGHHHH!". it sounded to me like the most generic, poll tested, focus group approved, bland slogan ever. She could have done soooo much better. like, " at least I'm sane"....or..." him?.. are you crazy?".....

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

28. I agree. It meant nothing,

and probably was focus grouped to death.

Bernie Sanders, A Future To Believe In was much better.

Obama in '09, Yes We Can! was even better.

Of course, anyone who supports or rejects a candidate solely on the campaign slogan is scarily ignorant.

[dalton99a]

7. "Take Out the Trash"

[madokie]

10. That's it

time to take out the trash

[KingCharlemagne]

11. +Infinity - nt

[Vogon_Glory]

8. Because We Deserve Better

I initially thought of recycling a very old Republican campaign slogan--"Had Enough?", but I think "We Deserve Better" not only appeals to Democrats but wised -up voters who awoke to their folly in voting Republican.

[meow2u3]

9. "Integrity. Civility. Decency."

[NurseJackie]

12. I thought "Stronger Together" was a reminder and call-to-action for the post-primary hold-outs.

But now I wonder, is it really all that important to have a "riveting campaign slogan"? Are there any scientific studies that illustrate conclusively that trademarked slogans can make-or-break an election results?

Or do we just automatically assume that the winner's slogan was "better" simply because the candidate won?

[LAS14]

13. I'm pretty sure Trump's "snappy" slogan helped people...

... identify his position. (Or what they wished was his position...) I cite the reaction of the college class in the OP. It's common sense that a clear focus helps to galvanize people.

[NurseJackie]

14. I'm not buying it. It may have been "snappy", but it didn't get him more votes than Hillary...

... there were other things at play that resulted in her electoral defeat. Blaming Hillary's slogan (or giving credit to Trump's slogan) is oversimplifying things, in my opinion.

I cite the reaction of the college class in the OP.

Anecdotal evidence may sound persuasive at first blush, but actual in-depth or analytical scientific studies (or even polls from legitimate polling institutions) as I asked about in my previous reply, would be of greater interest to me.

I'm sorry, but I see that neglected to respond to your original question of "Too early to start thinking about campaign slogans?" ... My response would be: Yes. It's much too early to seriously consider slogans for an unknown candidate. No harm in fantasizing, I suppose. I also suppose there's no harm in coming up with "anti-Trump" (generic) campaign slogans.

Even though it doesn't "galvanize" support of a specific candidate, such things will be great for memes, and protest picket-signs, etc... and to be a thorn in the side of Trump and his supporters and defenders. So in that regard, for the entertainment value of it, I'm all for it. For those among us who are over eager and who want to get a head start on 2020... I can definitely see the appeal.

Having said that, I believe it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to pre-commit to a "winning slogan" now and then saddle our party's nominee with a predetermined message that may not suit their personality or temperament or vision. Creating the perfect slogan now doesn't have any real strategic value, and it may not be appropriate for the conditions-on-the-ground at election time.

[LAS14]

17. Thanks for a thoughtful response! nt

[bettyellen]

15. Rather I think the morons among us need snappy hats and memes...

No one I knew did.

[LAS14]

16. We've got to do something to get some more morons to vote Democratic. nt

[bettyellen]

22. We need to go after the apathetic, the hateful are a waste of time.

[loyalsister]

24. It signaled "change"

Change back to "glory days" obviously, but still different. I think that is where we saw a pay-off from republican opposition. Voters didn't care or even pay attention to who was actually to blame but they wanted it to stop. They bought into the idea that someone who was not a politician would be an improvement.

[True_Blue]

18. Maybe something like Save America

That is if there's still an America left to save in 4 yrs.

[displacedtexan]

19. When the media repeats your red hat slogan 50 times a day...

...any slogan will do. It just doesn't matter, as long as wingnuts generate better tv ratings.

[NurseJackie]

20. A very astute observation. I believe you're on the right track.

[W_HAMILTON]

21. Repeal and Replace Republicans. n/t

n/t

[loyalsister]

23. That one turned me of because it had a military tone

It seems that strong is most often used in reference to physical strength which readily translates to fighting and military to me.

[Adrahil]

25. "You've been Trumped"

[True Dough]

26. Based on all the Bernie/Hillary hostility that has lingered here at DU

I would propose the slogan:

"Vote Democrat: If we don't tear each other apart, we can accomplish so much!"

Something along those lines.

[rock]

27. "Trump is a sack of shit!"

"Tea anyone?"

[MontanaMama]

29. Simple. To the point.

And you made me laugh out loud while I wait for 4 boys to finish laser tag at this gawd forsaken arcade. Win! 😝

[Freddie]

30. "Put the Grownups Back in Charge"

Next fall: "We get a death sentence so the rich can get a tax cut - and Rep. X voted for it."

[raging moderate]

31. WE CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW: 2020 VISION

Just a thought.