# Poll: Imprisoning Trump for contempt would have what effect on his presidential chances? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 6, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192 "2024-05-06T17:54:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/21 "2024-05-07T05:00:12Z")
Sure, but I’ve seen speculation that his hair styling may take as much as half an hour every morning. It’s more than just “Here’s a comb, run it through your hair,” which would work for most accused on their way to court. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/22 "2024-05-07T05:03:49Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Sure, but I’ve seen speculation that his hair styling may take as much as half an hour every morning. It’s more than just “Here’s a comb, run it through your hair,” which would work for most accused on their way to court With that comb-around he does, it’s gotta be down to his shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/23 "2024-05-07T05:05:11Z")
Maybe he could wear a hairnet in the slammer to preserve his magnificent crowning glory. ---
**Author:** ![Nyvaak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Nyvaak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nyvaak)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/24 "2024-05-07T07:33:32Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Just think of all the martyr cred Trump would score with fence-sitters, not to mention hard-core acolytes. This. Given the culture of victimhood that pervades the Republican Party and the willingness of many people to believe the worst of “The Government,” a master con man like Trump should have little problem spinning a weekend in jail into a narrative of being locked up for his beliefs and his willingness to speak out. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/25 "2024-05-07T09:46:30Z")
“Jail shouldn’t be the only penalty the judge considers… If Trump again attacks witnesses or the jury, [Judge] Merchan should assign him to pick up trash in parks.” (Gift link:) > **[Opinion | Jail for the Chief? There’s a Better Punishment.](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/06/opinion/trump-contempt-jail-punishment.html?unlocked_article_code=1.qE0.cOF2.cdaFYz_FVZ6g&smid=url-share)** > > Trump shouldn’t be allowed to use his punishment to play the martyr. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/26 "2024-05-07T10:12:33Z")
Jail for contempt? No effect. Jail for a felony? Significant hurt. Obviously not from the right, but I just cannot see the undecided going “You know a felon seems like a good idea.” ---
**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:** [May 7, 2024, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/27 "2024-05-07T11:25:31Z")
Maybe, but if you’re undecided, it means you imagine a world in which voting for Trump is a good idea. With everything he’s done and said already, why would “being a felon” push you into the “won’t vote for him” side? It might, for a few, but why this and not a million other things? (Actually, some polls have shown that some undecideds DO think this. I just don’t get it! They must be EXTREMELY “low information.” Or maybe 18 years old). ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/28 "2024-05-07T13:33:56Z")
Because that’s the nature of low information voters. They’re not looking to make a big compelling case to vote one way or the other. Carefully examining platforms, and issues. They’re looking for that little something to make up their mind. Typically it is “How do I feel the economy doing?” That’s the big decider for a lot of people (note, it isn’t how _is_ the economy doing). But little things like “I don’t think I want to vote for a felon for office. I don’t think he’d be the right guy to fix the economy especially since it is for business offenses.” ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/29 "2024-05-07T13:39:56Z")
It would be a net negative for the other cases, but for the hush money one, I think it’s a net positive for Trump. He gets to play the victim and most people don’t really understand this case. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/30 "2024-05-07T13:43:19Z")
I tend to agree (but, for this poll, I voted that it’s a wash). A year ago, I was praying that the Georgia election interference case would be tried first, because it was the best combination of: 1. About a truly important matter, and 2. Seemed to have enough evidence for a very probable guilty verdict. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/31 "2024-05-07T13:44:26Z")
> [@Chad\_Sudan](#): > > “Jail shouldn’t be the only penalty the judge considers… If Trump again attacks witnesses or the jury, [Judge] Merchan should assign him to pick up trash in parks.” It’s kind of fun, but I still think it helps Trump. Frontpage headlines everywhere and a chance to talk about how parks have trash in them now because of Biden. Honestly I wish I was coming to this with solutions, but everything is bad. Trump _should_ be sent to jail _and_ I think it will help him. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/32 "2024-05-07T13:47:57Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > a chance to talk about how parks have trash in them now because of Biden. Not to mention the built in tag line, “I’ve done more to clean up America just this afternoon than Biden has the last four years!” ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/33 "2024-05-07T13:52:15Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Trump might be able to leverage the prison tat for street cred. Seriously, if he associated with, and flattered, his follow inmates, comparing them positively with his opponent, I think it would help him. There really are ex-con voters. However, he lacks the physical courage to ditch the Secret Service and venture out. We know that because, on January 6, he let the SS refuse to drive him to the Capitol and failed to hail a cab. Wuss. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/34 "2024-05-07T13:59:06Z")
Others have mentioned media attention, but I think that’s the key factor. A former president going to jail (even if for just 24 hours) will be a giant story – front page news and the leading TV story both on the day he goes in and the day he comes out. It’s all just more oxygen for the unquenchable Trump publicity bonfire. But I don’t think it will change many voters’ minds one way or the other. I do worry that being jailed for contempt would numb people to the novelty, so when Trump is actually convicted for a felony and sentenced to actual prison time, a lot of people will just write it off as Trump going to jail _again_. But since it’s unlikely he’ll be convicted of anything before the election, I don’t see that impacting the vote either. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/35 "2024-05-07T14:36:16Z")
Yeah it will make a difference, and will hurt Trump. But not that much, not as much as being in prison for a felony on election day, but it will make a difference. The thing is, while I fervently hope this election will be a landslide for Biden that dooms every down ticket Republican, it’s perfectly possible that the election will be really close and this kind of thing will make a difference. It could come down to a few thousand swing voters in a couple of states, and maybe Trump spending a night in the cells is a enough to push a few of them over the line to Biden (or stay at home rather than vote trump) I totally don’t buy that any of this will help Trump, that’s bs. The kind of voter who would otherwise vote Biden or stay home, but will decide because of these trials and punishments they will vote Trump just doesn’t exist ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/36 "2024-05-07T14:42:21Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Trump might be able to leverage the prison tat for street cred. Even more so if he gets a facial tat vs that bullshit Roger Stone abomination. Great… so now I have this picture in my head of a cross between Trump and Post Malone. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/37 "2024-05-07T14:51:01Z")
So you’re saying you’re ready for the Post Trump era? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/38 "2024-05-07T15:02:57Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Others have mentioned media attention, but I think that’s the key factor. I really don’t buy this. Sure this was a huge factor in 2016, and the media have a lot to answer for how much attention they gave him back then. But it’s really not in 2024, he’s the presumptive GOP candidate in an election year (who tried to overturn the 2020 election results, and did a 1001 other things that make him being the GOP candidate frekin batshiat), he’s going to be the center of attention no matter what, and no one regardless of politics is going “hmm who’s this Trump fella?”. If this trial wasn’t happening he’d be playing the media to make sure he was getting media coverage, just like he did in 2016. The difference is he can’t control the narrative here, he can just sit passively in court while his trial reaches its inevitable conclusion and then rant about it afterwards (though not in a way that breaks the gag order, again making sure he can’t control the narrative the way he wants to) ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/39 "2024-05-07T15:10:41Z")
Trump’s non-stop mewling and whining about all his legal troubles makes him look weak to anyone who has been paying even a little attention and has not yet made up their mind. IMHO these poor souls are more likely to be put-off by “weakling” Trump now. In the mean time the Biden campaign should be pushing the news about the economy to these same people to ensure they know who’s the legitimate adult here, so they can easily see who’s the leader and who’s the loser. It’s these same voters in those key states that will make the difference in November. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192/40 "2024-05-07T15:15:31Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > he’s going to be the center of attention no matter what Yes and no. The media know that featuring Trump gets eyeballs, but they can’t exactly run headlines that say “Trump is the presumptive GOP candidate in an election year!” But him being jailed for contempt gives them an excuse to feature Trump! Trump! Trump! for days. So it’ll be an appalling few days with every ridiculous hot take we can imagine. But as far as whether all that attention will help or hurt his electability is probably a toss-up – which, as you mention, is flippin’ insane. Such are the times in which we live. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-imprisoning-trump-for-contempt-would-have-what-effect-on-his-presidential-chances/1001192.md?page=3)