The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has proposed several factors that may have contributed to Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the just concluded presidential election held on November 5, 2024.
Kingsley Moghalu posits that the American electorate may not yet be prepared to elect a female President.
Donald Trump emerged as the 47th President of the United States following his victory over Harris.
Moghalu further identified public perceptions regarding the economy as a significant influencing factor, noting that inflation remained elevated for a considerable portion of the campaign period.
In a statement on his social media account, Moghalu articulated the reasons for Harris's defeat, stating.
- Sexism (the American public is not yet ready for a female President).
- (Perceptions of) the Economy – inflation that was high for the majority of the campaign, despite its subsequent decline.
- Harris struggled to gain the confidence of the white working-class demographic, impacted by both racism and sexism. While Barack Obama successfully navigated racial prejudice, his maternal background was white, and the context was favorable.
- Trump's decisive victory, which encompassed almost all the key battleground states—including the historically Democratic 'blue wall' of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—indicates a substantial preference for him among voters. This preference persists despite Trump's contentious legal history and personality. The electorate appears less captivated by the 'woke' liberal agenda than often portrayed by left-leaning media outlets. They seem to favor a return to more 'traditional' values, even if Trump does not perfectly embody those principles.
Moghalu concluded by acknowledging the quality of Harris's campaign, which was executed within a condensed timeframe of approximately 100 days, noting her diligent efforts and effective organization.
However, he emphasized that she could not surmount the complex interplay of factors, both positive and negative, that galvanized support for Trump.