# 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:** 38
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/744 "2023-11-08T01:10:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As in most presidential races, this one will be decided by turnout. Not by persuading the mythical “centrist” to vote this way or that. > > Whichever team rallies their supporters to actually stick a ballot in the box, not just shout partisan noises into the Interwebz will be the winner. Modulo doing that in the few states and counties where it deeply, deeply matters. I’m not as absolutely sure about that as you are. The swingable centrist not only exists but matters. And turnout is often as much who ends up exciting votes against them as for them. HRClinton’s turnout error was, it seems to me, less failure in getting key D voters out, but ignoring any appeal to those predisposed against her. Oh she probably wouldn’t have swung many white rural voters her way but her having ignored and even disrespecting and insulting them on occasion helped drive their turnout way up. Specific to Trump as former president candidate to be: his base will turnout. Given. But will other voters predisposed to vote R come out to vote for him, against Biden (functionally same but still different), or stay home. Of those predisposed to vote D more will turnout to vote against Trump than for Biden. Unclear to me how much appealing to increase your base’s turnout is offset more by increases of turnout against your appeal? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/745 "2023-11-08T01:42:22Z")
Trump is still a viable candidate because his supporters live on a different planet. They can’t believe Judge Engoron is treating Trump so unfairly and they think the Trumps’ testimonies in the New York trial are reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/746 "2023-11-08T01:49:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As in most presidential races, this one will be decided by turnout. Not by persuading the mythical “centrist” to vote this way or that. If your idea of enhancing turnout is to give voters in heavily Democratic areas a free uber to get to the polling place, that is certainly going to hurt Trump. I don’t know it it is cost-effective for Democrats, but probably – yes. Beyond this, it is a fact that some political scientists do think the median voter theorem, associated with the centrist idea you reject, is outdated. This is for me the central question of the whole of “Politics & Elections,” and I am a median voter guy. However, I’m not going to get into it here. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/747 "2023-11-08T02:41:13Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I am reliably informed by folks in Alberta that the inflation in Canada is entirely Trudeau’s fault. They probably blame him for inflation in the USA as well… Ridiculous! Every one knows it’s Biden is responsible for Canadian inflation! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/748 "2023-11-08T13:35:19Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Ridiculous! Every one knows it’s Biden is responsible for Canadian inflation! Also, every international conflict that has happened under Biden’s watch is his fault, because none of it would have happened under a trump admin II (according to trump). ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/749 "2023-11-08T14:53:12Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Also, every international conflict that has happened under Biden’s watch is his fault, because none of it would have happened under a trump admin II (according to trump). It is somewhat interesting to see MAGA Republicans turn into peaceniks when it comes to Ukraine suddenly start beating the drums of war when it comes to Gaza. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/750 "2023-11-08T15:08:28Z")
It’s the “Bugs Bunny Strategy”. Trump would spin a road sign around so that Russian troops marching on Ukraine accidentally end up in Gaza and kill all of Hamas. (That’s probably more clever than anything he’s actually proposed.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/751 "2023-11-08T16:11:58Z")
So, Trump would take a wrong turn at Albuquerque? ---
**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:** [November 8, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/752 "2023-11-08T22:02:11Z")
Hoboken!??! ---
**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:** [November 8, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/753 "2023-11-08T22:03:19Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > It is somewhat interesting to see MAGA Republicans turn into peaceniks when it comes to Ukraine suddenly start beating the drums of war when it comes to Gaza. As Dirty Harry almost said: > Nuthin’ wrong with killin’ as long as the right people are doin’ it. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/754 "2023-11-09T01:32:18Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I am not concerned about polls letting Trump say the election was stolen. We know he says that, after a loss… …or after a friggin’ _win._ ETA: JR Delerious beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/755 "2023-11-09T23:39:27Z")
I can’t find a thread on Trumps rally last night. I found it interesting that he filled his venue to 33% (1700/5200). fivethirtyeight shows his popularity at a steady 40%. They couldn’t all show up but a lot did. That’s a dedicated bunch. [https://www.local10.com/news/politics/2023/11/09/complete-coverage-of-trumps-rally-in-hialeah-and-republican-debate-in-downtown-miami/](https://www.local10.com/news/politics/2023/11/09/complete-coverage-of-trumps-rally-in-hialeah-and-republican-debate-in-downtown-miami/) ETA He claimed there were tens of thousands. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/756 "2023-11-10T00:20:45Z")
If I can hold up a Trump sign behind him, I might get on TeeVEEE!11!!! ---
**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:** [November 10, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/757 "2023-11-10T01:36:28Z")
I guess each of those 1700 losers can now claim: > I am multitudes!!! Or at least they could if they could pronounce a 3-syllable word. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2023, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/758 "2023-11-10T04:50:05Z")
Borg. Singular or multitooled? ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/759 "2023-11-14T04:56:04Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > ETA He claimed there were tens of thousands. Just like the square footage of his pad in New York. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/760 "2023-11-14T15:08:56Z")
Anyone remember Trump’s words, which are depicted in this Biden campaign ad? > **[Biden campaign uses Trump's own words against him in new ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCfecol9H-M%2F)** > > President Biden's campaign releases a Veterans Day ad attacking former President Trump on comments Trump reportedly made about veterans. The Morning Joe pane... He’s been disparaging service members since his 2016 campaign, and continued after he became President. And yet, millions of people will still vote for him – even servicemembers. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/761 "2023-11-14T16:14:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > He’s been disparaging service members since his 2016 campaign, and continued after he became President. And yet, millions of people will still vote for him – even servicemembers. A lot of people who support him do so despite such comments, because they hate the left more than they hate the stupid things Trump says. Then the true deplorables like him _because_ of those comments. There are also going to be followers who insist, “Well clearly he wasn’t talking about **me** , he’s talking about those _other_ veterans that deserve it.” ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/762 "2023-11-14T17:04:57Z")
I supposr some of them convince themselves “oh if I can let that slide and not bother me it means I’m tough.” ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/763 "2023-11-14T17:11:35Z")
“I’m not vermin. Them others, they’re the vermin, so I want them exterminated. It feels nice to know that your enemies are being–Wait, what’s that truck pulling up to my house? The truck that says ‘EXTERMINATOR’ on the side? And why are they hooking up hoses to my house, and what’s that awful smell? GAHHH!!!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=39)