# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/61 "2023-05-12T20:22:24Z")
There are huge swaths of the country that the Democratic party has simply given up on. They “make wise choices with campaign contributions” by avoiding those areas altogether. In short, there is little to no counter-messaging reaching millions of Americans. Algorithms have assured that the internet has not become the great leveler we expected on this front. We expected that everyone would have equal access to information, but no, it doesn’t work out that way. Voters know when a party has given up on them. If you are paying no attention whatsoever to their needs and concerns, they are going to vote for the guy who says he will. Even if he’s proven time and again that he won’t keep those promises, he’s still the best option they’ve got. Republicans are reaping the rewards of decades of work. They have given scholarships to “church leaders” who will spread their message. They have pushed religious fanatics into taking over local school boards. They have wiped out the requirement to tell the truth on TV. And they have scuttled the CFC, keeping it underfunded and understaffed. As a result, they can say anything, spend anything (from anyone) and fully expect a following of undereducated faithful who will hang on their every word like it came from God. They never expected that Trump would come along and coopt their crowd. But McConnell found him useful as a rodeo clown, dancing and distracting while McConnell swept through some truly appalling legislation. Now that they know how to use him, they will tolerate Trump until he blows an artery. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/62 "2023-05-12T20:34:14Z")
Note to the moderators: my apologies if you decide that my post (#57) is off topic. My last sentence was a direct answer to the OP’s question, so I thought the contents of my post were appropriate. But I can see that, since my post was more about Dems than about Trump , you might want to block it. Sorry. Maybe move it to a new thread of its own? ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/63 "2023-05-12T20:56:33Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > There are huge swaths of the country that the Democratic party has simply given up on. The Democrats just brought lots of infrastructure and manufacturing to those places. Money and jobs is hardly ignoring them. You may remember the stories about R members of congress going home and touting the money “they brought” to their districts somehow by voting against every one of those bills? Biden called them out for that. Conservative money has bought out all local news networks and AM radio across these areas. The reason they aren’t getting the message is that the Republicans have bought all the loud speakers in those areas so they can lie with impunity and tell them only the GOP cares about them. Funny how they never have to do anything tangible to help them though. Could the Ds do better about outreach and communications to those areas? I’m sure they can, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that right wing money is the main reason for this. The trope that the Democrats have given up on these areas is just Republican BS. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/64 "2023-05-12T22:14:25Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Quite frankly, I think a lot of Trump supporters just want to see the world burn. I think this is very true, and perhaps represents a consequence of our very economically stratified society. When you live in such a gilded age as we do, where wealth is concentrated and so many people struggle to get by, there rises up a very large populist movement. I think, right now, it’s splitting between the Bernie wing of the Democratic party and the trump wing of the Republican Party. And since the trump wing is full of the more reactionary, and less thoughtful, of the two populist groups, it’s far larger and capable of swaying elections. ---
**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 12, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/65 "2023-05-12T22:22:12Z")
I would not vote for Trump. Despite causing much harm he will win the Republican nomination. However, there are reasons his campaign is viable: - Many find Trump entertaining - Many find Trump humourous (rare in politicians) - Many support his policies on an issue of importance to them (tax, foreign policy, court representation, immigration, religion, gun issues) - Many are not exposed to, or do not believe, criticisms and objections to his performance - Many enjoy being contrarian - Do not think other politicians or parties would represent them as well (which may include a degree of self-delusion) - He is different from other politicians - Reasons of class, perceived business acumen, intolerance or peer pressure, feeling ignored by other politicians - Alternatives are deemed worse - People do not really value democracy - Psychologically astute at making all conversations about him, still easily gets ample media coverage and free publicity of any view ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/66 "2023-05-12T22:31:15Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I would not vote for Trump. Despite causing much harm he will win the Republican nomination. I would add that it was unknown before, but the record does show now that embracing him is causing more harm than good for the Republicans in the “being electable” front. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/67 "2023-05-12T22:59:12Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Many support his policies on an issue of importance to them (tax, foreign policy, court representation, immigration, religion, gun issues) And more importantly, many cannot even tell what Trump’s policies even are on these issues. Trump is a Tabula Rasa, and his supporters hear what they want to hear, and imagine that he represents their issues. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/68 "2023-05-12T23:52:25Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > > [@TruCelt](#): > > > > There are huge swaths of the country that the Democratic party has simply given up on. > > The Democrats just brought lots of infrastructure and manufacturing to those places. Money and jobs is hardly ignoring them. This is true. But then, Trump also knows how to go out to factories and make similar claims about how he brought jobs somewhere. Trump is an authoritarian. Biden is pro-democracy. That huge to me, and I fault my next link for not pointing it out. But as explained here, neither party is giving up on the rust belt: [Jonah Goldberg](https://thedispatch.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=9232fe81225bcaef853ae32870a2b0fe.1068&nosocial=1) > [@](#): > > Biden will never say it—nor will Trump—but he’s held on to most of Trump’s “America First” trade policies. Bipartisanship! Hooray! > > Biden and Sullivan’s story of American decline—rooted in gauzy memories of the 1950s—is the same story Donald Trump and the natcons tell, at least on economics and trade. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/69 "2023-05-12T23:54:41Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > When you live in such a gilded age as we do, where wealth is concentrated… > > {snip} > > …the trump wing of the Republican Party. The irony, it burns! ---
**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 13, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/70 "2023-05-13T00:06:28Z")
Trump went years essentially talking about himself without stating any policy positions. I have read this has recently changed and he has produced a series of videos. However, I do not seek them out nor want to watch them. I think it more likely Trump will lose the election than win. Amazingly, this would not be entirely due (IMHO) to the many, many reasons I think he is a poor choice, but rather due to other policies pursued by Republicans or the Supreme Court and the failure of most other candidates to criticize him or portray themselves as other than Trump Lite. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2023, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/71 "2023-05-13T00:16:43Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And more importantly, many cannot even tell what Trump’s policies even are on these issues. Trump is a Tabula Rasa, and his supporters hear what they want to hear, and imagine that he represents their issues. There’s been a lot of smart commentary on trump and related issues in this thread, but the core of what I was trying to understand, which maybe I didn’t relate very well in my OP, is: what exactly is the dark magic trump seems to have that allows him to keep clawing his way back into political relevance time and time again, despite being so awful and incompetent. Several posters have made great points and come close, and there’s not one correct answer, but this seems like it’s really close to the bullseye. trump is the ultimate cipher. He spews out little refrigerator magnet snippets of keywords and phrases that his followers can do with and interpret as they will. And his raging, unstoppable ego keeps the insane merry-go-round turning. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/72 "2023-05-13T00:27:56Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Sorry, I really could have been clearer. What I’m saying is you’re thinking about this in terms of American parties; liberals on the left, conservatives on the right, which is how it’s always been. But the membership of both parties has also always had a big-L liberal worldview, as in, believed in liberalism: democratic representation, free enterprise, civil liberties, whatever. In another country that had a socialist party and a fascist party and a communist party and a green party and so on, all of those people could be in a liberal party, even if they disagree about a lot of individual policy choices. In the US, the window isn’t really that wide, so relatively small ideological differences are the basis for party affiliation. It’s like how our departed Libertarian became Liberal and infuriated SDMB liberals, because he was on the other side of the political spectrum as they saw it, and he thought it was funny to call himself that because he did see himself as a classical liberal. Okay, I know enough political history to be aware that the classical liberal ideology was based on ideas like freeing middle class businessmen from the restraints of crown monopolies and encouraging international free trade. But in a thread about the 2024 election, I think it’s better to use terms as they apply in current mainstream American politics. > [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Anyway, Trump people, who we are calling conservatives because they’re on the American right and that’s how we’re used to talking about, aren’t the people who used to be the average American conservative who still believed in liberalism. They don’t really give a shit about liberalism. That’s one way to look at the January 6 divide; those institutions are supposed to matter, and these people don’t give a shit about any of them. Their response to complaints that they aren’t following norms is that they want the norms destroyed. It is not for nothing we’re always talking about fascists. > > So what I’m saying is, when you say conservatives would rather have a Reagan or a Bush, that’s true about the old version of a “conservative” whose ideology fit the 80s/90s Republican party. But that’s not really what right wing America stands for anymore, and when I was talking about “conservatives” I really meant right wing America. I see the divide you’re describing between conservative ideology and right wing ideology. But I don’t think that divide is as important as you appear to be suggesting. The right wing is insignificant in American politics (as they demonstrated on January 6). They don’t drive any significant political agenda on their own. Conservatives. on the other hand, do have a political agenda and they expect results. When they demand lowered taxes and government contracts, they don’t want to hear promises. They tell elected officials to deliver and be replaced. Conservatives often find the right wingers to be a useful tool. They can be riled up and manipulated into voted in support of conservative issues. And to keep them happy, the conservatives will occasionally throw them a bone (like overturning Roe). But if the right wing ever tried to declare its independence, they’ll discover they can’t do anything without conservative help. The conservatives on the other hand can work without the right wing. They can pivot to the center and appeal to moderates. I feel what we’re seeing right now is the conservatives feeling that the right wingers have gotten too uppity and are thinking they run things. The conservatives are looking to put the right wingers back in their place, which is subordinate to the conservatives. ---
**Author:** ![TestPattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@TestPattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TestPattern)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/73 "2023-05-13T01:02:42Z")
This country is run by psychopaths, so… ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/74 "2023-05-13T01:23:37Z")
> [@solost](#): > > There’s been a lot of smart commentary on trump and related issues in this thread, but the core of what I was trying to understand, which maybe I didn’t relate very well in my OP, is: what exactly is the dark magic trump seems to have that allows him to keep clawing his way back into political relevance time and time again, despite being so awful and incompetent. Historians, assuming continued existence of free nations, will be debating this for centuries. This short book — free to download — explains a big part of it — how DJT gained control of the GOP: > **[The-Corruption-of-Lindsey-Graham.pdf](https://www.thebulwark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Corruption-of-Lindsey-Graham.pdf)** > > 1900.24 KB I think another big part is the decline of local mainstream newspapers and their replacement by opinion journalism. This doesn’t guarantee a demagogue will arise, but makes it more possible. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/75 "2023-05-13T01:50:22Z")
> [@TestPattern](#): > > This country is run by psychopaths, so… They’re taking it back from the sociopaths. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/76 "2023-05-13T02:02:15Z")
Without reading the whole thread, Trump once said that he was opposed to abortion. That’s all some of them need. ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/77 "2023-05-14T23:40:05Z")
Because conservatives actually believe all the toxic, macho bullshit they espouse, and when most of the world is telling you you’re a jerk, it can be very validating to have a high-profile “leader” who unapologetically models all your worst behavior. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/78 "2023-05-15T04:48:36Z")
> [@solost](#): > > It just boggles my mind that, after all we as a country have gone through with trump, that he’s still, not only a viable candidate, but with only 18 months until the election could very credibly be reelected President. How can this possibly be? It’s very simple, IMO. It’s because of the rigid two-party system in the US. Most people, both Dems and GOPers, will vote in the general election for whoever their party nominates—even if they’re scum—because you _have_ to if you don’t want the other party to get the White House. You can’t vote for a third-party or you’ll be throwing away your vote. If Trump gets chosen by all the Trumpets (who make sure they vote in the primary) then some GOPers and Independents who despise Trump will vote for him anyway. Because they don’t want the liberal, Commie Democratic candidate to win. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/79 "2023-05-17T22:40:20Z")
Trump is still viable the same way Joe Biden is: Politicians and social media have driven the left and right to hate each other, so both have elected pugilists who ‘fight’. Neither of them have any business being near the oval office, but so long as there aren’t other viable alternatives, each side will completely ignore the faults of their candidate, or decide that the faults are strengths. As for why there aren’t viable alternatives: Because politics has gotten so abusive that serious people just aren’t willing to put themselves and their families through it. So for candidates we get lifetime politicians, people hungry for power or fame, or stooges fronting for powerful interests. Most of the excellent people who mght run in either party have left the building, along with a lot of voters. The biggest political faction in the U.S. now is ‘independent’, and by a big margin, because both parties are distasteful to the normies. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/80 "2023-05-17T23:34:49Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Trump is still viable the same way Joe Biden is: Politicians and social media have driven the left and right to hate each other, so both have elected pugilists who ‘fight’. I know that Americans on the right now consider Biden extreme, but, as a moderate, I can’t see it. Neither his policies nor his rhetoric is extreme by the standards of his party, or even his nation. Except for his age, he’s a strong candidate. So — the reason Biden is viable is because Trump is a weak candidate due to DJT’s extreme demeanor. If Nikki Haley or Tim Scott somehow get the nomination, Biden won’t be viable. If DeSantis gets the nomination, I wouldn’t give up on Biden having a chance. Ron’s too hard right for Biden to have no chance against him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=5)