# How is trump still a viable candidate for president? Really, how? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 12, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949 "2023-05-12T14:28:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/184 "2023-05-25T08:52:21Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > When did the president do that? I’m guessing never. It’s a reference to this: > **[Biden shocks viewers with ‘hellish red background’ for polarizing speech](https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-shocks-viewers-hellish-red-background-polarizing-speech)** > > President Biden’s polarizing speech sent social media ablaze with a "blood red" background that stunned viewers and generated criticism from conservatives. Firstly, the lights behind him were red and blue. Secondly, he accused “MAGA Republicans” of being enemies of “equality and democracy”, which remains true (the former being demonstrated by all the pantytwisting over DEI and the latter by, well, January 6). ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/185 "2023-05-25T11:17:54Z")
Good heavens. First the tan suit, then a red background. What precious snowflakes. Thanks for the reference, I hadn’t heard this one before. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/186 "2023-05-25T17:45:12Z")
Tell them the red background was just Biden paying an homage to the Republicans. That’ll shut 'em up. Oh, no it won’t; they’ll just bitch about something else. Or about this _and_ something else. Or about this and two something elses. What a bunch of whiners. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/187 "2023-05-25T23:20:32Z")
“Republican primary voters currently prefer Trump to DeSantis by 33 percent.” _(Economist/YouGov)_. Oddsmakers put Trump’s chances of winning the Presidency at one in three. (See article below.) But there is a difference between entertainment and governance. In Bob Woodward’s book on Trump, he explains how Trump almost single-handedly blew up America’s trade and foreign relations with South Korea. An official moved the signed letter on his desk ready to do so and he eventually forgot about it. There may be reason to doubt or deny this version of events but I haven’t heard anyone do so. > **[Donald Trump is very likely to be the Republican nominee](https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/05/25/donald-trump-is-very-likely-to-be-the-republican-nominee)** > > So his chances of re-entering the Oval Office are uncomfortably high ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/188 "2023-05-26T02:21:45Z")
I didn’t see DeSantis’s announcement, but this article about it is pretty savage. (DeSantis claims to have raised $8m in 24h which is impressive compared to his competitors.) > **[DeSantis’s Launch Was Not the Only Thing That Crashed](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/05/ron-desantis-presidential-launch-twitter-crash/674189/)** > > It was bad when the Twitter Spaces sound was off for the Florida governor. It was worse when the sound came on. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/189 "2023-06-01T21:59:07Z")
Maybe this will make sense to me later? > **[They Still Love Him](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/06/why-trump-supporters-still-love-him/674248/)** > > Trump may be unpopular nationally, but within his own party, the devotion has not subsided. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/190 "2023-06-01T22:31:01Z")
Makes complete sense now. A sizeable fraction of humans love tyrants. Or think they do until the tyrant’s goons put their boot on _their_ neck, not those other folks the idjits expected them to boot. The only way the reactionary right in the USA will learn is after _their_ parents or spouses or children have been hauled away to Gestapo headquarters in the wee hours. Then they will understand that this was not a smart move. But not until. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/191 "2023-06-01T23:13:44Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > A sizeable fraction of humans love tyrants. Well, yes. But Trump needs, if not a majority, then 48 percent or so. And even if 48 percent do love tyrants, of some sort, I don’t think 48 percent love right-wing tyrants. Here is a good new article explaining why [Trump keeps on polling slightly ahead of Biden](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2024/president/us/general-election-trump-vs-biden-7383.html#polls) without need to label swing voters as tyrant-lovers: [What kind of voters do Democrats need more of?](https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/why-cant-the-democrats-be-more-moderate) > [@](#): > > . . . socially conservative and fiscally liberal voters. These are cross-pressured swing voters—and there are a lot of them. . . . > > “Our goal as a society should be to treat all people the same without regard to the color of their skin”. This Martin Luther King-style statement elicited sky-high (92 percent) agreement from the public. . . > In a fascinating related finding, the researchers found that most people who claim to have heard about CRT believe CRT includes this colorblind perspective, rather than directly contradicting it. Perhaps they just can’t believe any theory that has anything to do with race would reject this fundamental principle. This gets to why I think Trump will win in November 2024. Low information voters don’t realize that Biden is actually in favor of reverse discrimination. When the Supreme Court rules against it, probably this year, AA will get lots of attention, and Biden will probably shoot himself in the foot by saying he regrets the court decision. That will give Trump a couple more points that can’t be recovered from. Hope I’m wrong. P.S. What if Harris endorsed the likely Supreme Court decision and said that one reason she went to Howard was that she knew she would be judged on purely non-racial criteria. Yes, I know, she won’t do that. But if she wants to be the rare VP candidate who helps her ticket, she could. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/192 "2023-06-01T23:18:19Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Well, yes. But Trump needs, if not a majority, then 48 percent or so. And even if 48 percent do love tyrants, of some sort, I don’t think 48 percent love right-wing tyrants. Not even remotely accurate. Because of the gerrymandering and red state / blue state vs the EC, Trump can win with very few swing voters in very few constituencies. He does not need anywhere near 48% of the popular vote to win. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/193 "2023-06-01T23:24:26Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Is there more to it than what I can only guess at? Trump personally dominated the Republican party when he _was_ in power, and the effect is that after losing in 2020, he still dominates the party. For seven years now, Trump has been the face of the Republican party. There’s no going back, and there’s no reclaiming of the party by moderates. They’ve been out of the picture for too long, nobody with pre-Trump name recognition is going to attempt a Pat Buchanan, much less pull off a Bob Dole. Get used to seeing Trump until he keels over. Look at the field this cycle - they’re people who really came to national prominence during the Trump years. Yes, that includes Asa Hutchinson, who was a nobody in 2015 unless you lived in Arkansas and has little name recognition even now. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/194 "2023-06-01T23:30:16Z")
There is some cause for concern. Biden needs to build back better. Trumpet abortion concerns, fulfill his promises which appeal to interests (see first article), rely more on positive actions than negative opposition flaws. He has only kind of unified his party. He has not persuaded the average dude that he has done an excellent job. I’m not saying he has not done some good, or been free from obstacles, or is not a markedly better candidate. > **[Are Black And Hispanic Americans Abandoning Biden?](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-approval-black-hispanic-voters/)** > > President Biden has an enthusiasm problem — again. Since he kicked off his reelection bid in late April, asking Americans for another four years to “finish this… > **[Why Trump Is Polling Much Better Among Very Conservative Primary Voters Than...](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trump-polls-very-conservative-voters-2016-2024/)** > > Shortly before the 2016 presidential primaries began, the influential conservative outlet the National Review devoted an entire edition of its biweekly magazine… ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/195 "2023-06-01T23:45:56Z")
I’ve heard it reported that 1 in 5 Black male voters picked Trump in 2020, _up_ from 2016. And he has non-negligible support in Hispanic and Asian communities. Minorities aren’t monoliths of liberal or any other ideology. I know it’s hard to fathom given the (deserved) constant negative press, but nearly half of the voting population did in fact pick Trump in 2020. Most probably did so holding their nose - MAGAhead election-denying diehards are a ruling minority in the Republican party. It was not a landslide for Biden. Trump has demonstrable pull, at least when it comes to his own candidacy. Love him or hate him, he is a political leader with proven charisma. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/196 "2023-06-01T23:46:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Not even remotely accurate. Only if the greens and libertarians do extremely well. If Trump gets 48 percent of the major party vote, he loses according to this, I think, rather objective analysis: [The Republican Electoral College Advantage](https://www.cookpolitical.com/cook-pvi/2022-partisan-voter-index/republican-electoral-college-advantage) > [@](#): > > Democrats need to win the popular vote by at least three points (but more realistically 4 points) to feel confident that it will translate to an Electoral College win. The way polling has gone for the last year, Trump would probably win both the electoral college and the popular vote. And those pollsters don’t ask for voter ID. If you want to know why Trump is viable, I’d ask why Biden won last time. I think it was because he was perceived to be much more regular-guy moderate than normal Democrats, and that gets back to my Liberal Patriot link. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/197 "2023-06-01T23:58:32Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > He [Biden] has only kind of unified his party. Hope you are correct about him not having unified his party. Only [27 percent of voters](https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx) are Democrats. That’s roughly half of what is needed to win. And you can’t appeal to the other needed half without some Clintonian triangulation that will lose some Democrats to the Greeens. But in actual swing states, most of those Greens would hold their noses and vote for Biden anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/198 "2023-06-02T00:00:12Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Trump has demonstrable pull, at least when it comes to his own candidacy. Love him or hate him, he is a political leader with proven charisma. Whatever he has, I wouldn’t call it charisma. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/199 "2023-06-02T00:03:42Z")
That’s exactly what it is. 100%. Simple words, aggressive nature, name-calling. The weird hairdo. The orange skin. The grumpy face. _It’s hard to ignore his presence_, and not just because he is powerful. PoliSci students will study his mannerisms, appearance, and paradoxical appeal to so many people, for years to come. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![TheTooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/919ad9/32.png) [@TheTooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTooth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/200 "2023-06-02T00:06:12Z")
It’s the opposite. It’s charisn’tma. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/201 "2023-06-02T00:06:25Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Simple words, aggressive nature, name-calling > cha·ris·ma > > _noun_ > > 1. > 1. > > compelling [attractiveness](https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS991US991&q=attractiveness&si=AMnBZoGo5JO1-RMo7Hmdi0jk7E03H1ZqdNkvHrXu_iyZFHxRcFD63kL0DATuTSW5vew9GR4EB2ervF2yLTRtiPV3od3aREBQafTyLVvnfZXTgWYGjHfms-0%3D&expnd=1) or charm that can inspire [devotion](https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS991US991&q=devotion&si=AMnBZoFm76bvId4K9j6r5bU9rVYrkHfRKu1D2mvyy4frftM5MYaIfkLIJvwqeXV4OJNkw7spOSVCLDA6RJiZRc08Ht-yAaIYIQ%3D%3D&expnd=1) in others. what trump has is not attractiveness or charm. It may be compelling and inspire devotion in others, but it’s not charming. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/202 "2023-06-02T00:10:10Z")
My dictionary gives definition 1a as “A rare personal quality attributed to leaders who arouse fervent popular devotion and enthusiasm.” Entry 1b involves personal magnitism _or_ charm, implying attractiveness in the sense of attracting popular attention. Which Trump excels at. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/203 "2023-06-02T00:12:26Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > My dictionary gives definition 1a as “A rare personal quality attributed to leaders who arouse fervent popular devotion and enthusiasm. Okay, by that definition he’s charismatic. As were Charlie Manson and Jim Jones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=11)