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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThree Mistakes the Trump Campaign Can Fix
BloombergHe is, first, spending too much time talking about the wrong things. Journalist David Frum has pointed out how different Trump sounds now than he did in 2016. Then, he beat conventional Republican politicians who dwelt on issues that didnt move most voters, like deficits and productivity. He addressed issues that voters cared about more than the governors and senators did, such as manufacturing and immigration.
These days Trump is more apt to be talking about issues that obsess him but have limited purchase among his core supporters and none outside it. Theres Obamagate, a convoluted theory about the previous administrations alleged attempts to abuse power to undermine the current one. Not one voter in 100 could explain it. Since Frum wrote, Trump has repeatedly and baselessly suggested that TV commentator Joe Scarborough is a murderer. These messages that Trump is a victim and his persecutors are monsters have little to do with voters, and are unlikely to influence anyone who isnt already deep in Trumpland.
Trump is, second, placing himself further from the center of public opinion than he did in 2016. Back then, he presented himself as a dealmaker and competent manager who would hire the best people, and wasnt tied to Republican orthodoxy. He talked about reining in Wall Street and ensuring paid leave for new parents. He said he had no objection in principle to socialized medicine. Fewer voters saw him as conservative than had seen previous Republican presidential nominees that way. Over the course of his presidency, perceptions have changed: A lot more voters now consider Trump very conservative.
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A third mistake is Trumps insistence on portraying his opponent, Sleepy Joe, as a senile buffoon. Voters know that neither of these candidates is Cicero and dont seem to hold it against either. But whats especially self-defeating about this campaign tactic which the entire Republican Party has followed is that it rearranges public expectations to Bidens benefit. Every time top Republicans mock Biden as a surefire disaster on the campaign trail, they are lowering the bar for how well he has to do in the fall and, especially, in the debates.
Silent3
(15,129 posts)None whatsoever. They should, in fact, keep adding more and more mistakes.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Stephen Miller's "brain" trust is very efficient at that.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)mentioned thus far today,have to say,keep up the good work Orange Anus,the world has past you bye some time ago.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)Disgusting to put anyone alongside the toxic trump.
subterranean
(3,427 posts)like water pressure in home appliances and toilets that need to be flushed 10-15 times.
And, of course, Hillary's emails.
mokawanis
(4,435 posts)Currently it looks like he's going to just keep doing what he's been doing but I'm concerned he'll eventually realize he needs to significantly change strategy and tactics to improve his standing in the polls (which he frequently claims to not care about, but that's just another lie he tells repeatedly). His character being what it is he'll say or do anything if he thinks it will help him win an election.
What if he makes big changes and returns to the strategies he used in 2016? Is that even possible given all that's transpired since then?
lastlib
(23,132 posts)He's flushed too many turds down that sewer pipe for it to smell pretty to all but his most olfactory-insensitive base.
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)he's not a wizard, he's a con man who got lucky. And now, his mental faculties are declining so much he can't pull off a con anymore. Also, kinda hard to con an entire country AFTER you've been exposed.
yortsed snacilbuper
(7,939 posts)The magats probably don't know who J.S. is, I'm pretty sure they don't watch MSNBC?
I vaguely remember it being discussed on DU way back, it didn't get much traction though.
tRump is not healthy, mentally or physically, I look for him to crash and burn.
MyOwnPeace
(16,913 posts)I have to believe the "crash & burn" is far more likely than we may have dared to expect....
dhill926
(16,302 posts)every fucking day for the last 3 1/2 years. He ain't gonna be able to fix shit...
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,389 posts)What's he going to do in the next few months that will fix 4 years of him, not to mention everything bad that has happened on his watch THIS year?
crickets
(25,949 posts)Trump isn't capable. There will be no debates.