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If Donald Trump hopes to secure another term in the White House, he must prioritize winning the “ground war.”

In 2016, social media memes did not play a significant role in his election victory – it was his vigorous campaign rally schedule that ultimately made the difference.

As the Democratic National Convention garners attention this month, the Republican nominee has taken a hiatus from the campaign trail.

Is this a wise decision?

In August 2016, Trump held an impressive 27 rallies, as reported by CNBC. However, this time around, he has only conducted a handful of rallies.

Instead, he has engaged in an interview on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, with Elon Musk.

This tactic mirrors a strategy that did not lead to success for Ron DeSantis during his bid for the Republican nomination.

DeSantis kicked off his campaign last year with a Musk interview, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.

While social media has its place in modern campaigning, elections are not won solely through online platforms.

Before Trump’s surprising victory eight years ago, it was widely believed that rallies were not influential in determining the election outcome.

However, Trump’s extensive rally schedule proved to be his secret weapon, challenging the expectations of Clinton’s campaign professionals.

Clinton’s campaign strategy focused heavily on television ads, assuming that their fundraising superiority would ensure victory in the “air war.”

However, Trump’s presence in neglected territories within battleground states conveyed a sense of care for the overlooked American populace, which TV ads failed to achieve.

Given the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 in 2020, Trump was unable to conduct rallies like he did in 2016, leading to his defeat.

On the other hand, Joe Biden adopted a similar low-key campaign approach, both during the election and his presidency.

Trump, now facing Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, must exhibit the same energy and engagement as he did against Clinton.

Despite being older, Trump’s resilience is notable, as demonstrated by his recent 92-minute acceptance speech at the Republican convention.

The question at hand is whether Trump recognizes the necessity of campaigning in a manner reminiscent of 2016.

While he now possesses a well-funded campaign team, relying solely on this factor would be reckless, especially when compared to the effectiveness of direct voter engagement.

To secure victory, Trump must intensify his presence in battleground states and enhance his organizational efforts, which currently lag behind the Democrats’ preparations.

The Democratic Party’s advancements in mail-in and early voting strategies present a challenge that Republicans must adequately address.

Recent polling and historical trends suggest that Trump faces an uphill battle in this election, with Democrats having a favorable electoral advantage.

To defy the odds again, Trump must prioritize physical campaigning by engaging directly with voters, as he did in 2016.

Daniel McCarthy is the editor of Modern Age: A Conservative Review and editor-at-large of The American Conservative.