The Absence of the Ordinary in 2020 Presidential Politics: What Politicians Communicate

Abstract

As the 2020 American presidential election approaches, it is worth thinking about the current electoral moment in terms of lessons from the recent and not‐so‐recent past. This article begins with an unlikely analysis. Ordinary life captures the attention of citizens who vote but do not spend their lives 24/7 on social media or cable news or public radio. Ordinary people do not spend their time discussing social policy over dinner. Ordinary people go to dinner—not dinner parties. The ordinary people are the path to victory in any political contest. This article explores the “ordinary” and its relation to politics.