Donald Trump and Kamala Harris Turn to Pickleball: Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have turned to pickleball—a rapidly growing sport—to connect with voters ahead of the November 5 election. As the race tightens, the two are using this unexpected strategy to engage key voter demographics. Months earlier, President Joe Biden’s campaign laid the groundwork, targeting older voters in swing states through activities like bingo and pickleball. It appears both campaigns have doubled down on this unconventional approach, showing how much the sport has gained traction in recent months.
Pickleball Gear and Campaigns
Donald Trump’s team, always keen on marketing, has introduced a custom pickleball line to appeal to voters across the country. The merchandise includes paddles branded with the Trump name, aiming to spark interest among the rapidly growing community of pickleball players.
On the other side, the Harris-Walz campaign has hosted numerous pop-up events, using the sport as a tool to engage older voters in key battleground areas. Merchandise for Kamala Harris’s campaign is also trending, with products like the “Pickleballers for Kamala Harris Pullover Hoodie” and “Kamala Harris 2024 LGBT Pickleball Election T-Shirt” making their way into Amazon’s inventory, blending sports enthusiasm with political support.
The Trump Pickleball Push
While Donald Trump’s campaign hasn’t directly organized pickleball events, it hasn’t stayed on the sidelines either. Earlier in September, he launched a pickleball set featuring paddles with his name written across them.
Priced at $118, the set comes with two paddles, a case, and balls, designed to appeal to his supporters and pickleball fans. The move shows Donald Trump’s savvy for merging branding with sports, tapping into the enthusiasm of a fast-growing sport to help energize his base.
Why Pickleball is the Perfect Political Play?
Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, has exploded in popularity, particularly among older adults—a crucial voter demographic. Both campaigns are keenly aware of this, and it’s no surprise they’ve incorporated the sport into their strategies. With well-known celebrities like Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo Di Caprio and Orlando Bloom joining the pickleball craze, its appeal is far-reaching.
The sport has even infiltrated U.S. schools, with over 30 districts in Michigan set to add it to their physical education programs, making it a cross-generational hit. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are capitalizing on this trend, connecting with suburban and senior voters while embracing one of the fastest-growing sports in America.
News in Brief: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris Turn to Pickleball
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are turning to pickleball to engage voters ahead of the November 5 election. Both campaigns have utilized the sport’s rising popularity, particularly among older adults, to connect with key demographics.
Donald Trump’s campaign introduced branded pickleball paddles, while the Harris-Walz campaign hosted pop-up pickleball events to attract voters. The sport, which blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, has grown rapidly, attracting celebrities and being incorporated into school curriculums. Pickleball’s widespread appeal is helping both campaigns tap into a diverse group of voters.
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