Trump, Harris hit podcast circuit in final days before election

( NewsNation ) — The path to 270 electoral votes is starting to feel like 270 podcast appearances.

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are making the rounds on the podcast circuit in the final days leading up to the 2024 election.

Trump is scheduled to appear on Joe Rogan’s massively popular podcast. About 80% of the comedian’s listeners are male. Trump’s support with that demographic has increased by 16% since 2020.

Harris, meanwhile, has appeared on the popular “Call Her Daddy” podcast, where the vice president focused on reproductive rights. She’s expected to appear Friday on Brené Brown’s podcast, “Unlocking Us.”

Few outlets offer the opportunity to zero in on an audience better than podcasts, which have essentially doubled in listenership since 2016.

The format is narrowcasting at its finest, said Andy Bowers, co-founder of the on-demand audio company Spooler Media. People who listen to podcasts often feel an intense loyalty to their favorites, almost like they’re part of a club of people with similar traits and interests — and a candidate has been invited into that club for a day.

“You’re talking to a specific audience with a specific bent and frame of mind,” said Tom Bettag, a University of Maryland journalism professor. “That’s very helpful to somebody who is trying to avoid saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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