In a new series, we are revisiting political wisdom from past campaigns. The first installment of the 538 Politics podcast mini-series, “Campaign Throwback,” takes a look back at campaign tropes from previous elections. These include phrases like “it’s the economy, stupid,” “soccer moms,” and the question of which candidate you’d prefer to share a beer with.
The focus of the first episode is on the phrase “it’s the economy, stupid.” This saying dates back to Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. At that time, Clinton’s chief strategist, James Carville, emphasized three key messages for the staff to remember. These were: 1) Change versus more of the same, 2) The economy, stupid, and 3) Don’t forget about healthcare. The phrase “it’s the economy, stupid” became well-known and was featured in a 1993 documentary about the Clinton campaign called “The War Room.” It has since become a staple in election analysis.
The episode examines the accuracy of the phrase and its impact on past campaigns. It delves into whether economic issues truly drive voter behavior and decision-making during elections. To listen to the full episode and explore more insights on this topic, you can find the podcast on your preferred platform
