… Trump believes that he won in 2016 because of — not in spite of — his rhetoric, divisiveness and open hostility to minorities and immigrants. His instincts have been further rewarded by a GOP that has failed to criticize him. It’s easy to understand, then, why he believes he can win this way again.
There’s plenty of evidence (like, say the 2018 midterms) that voters are ready to turn the page from Trump. But, if Trump can make the election a choice instead of a referendum, he has a chance to succeed. No, he can’t make it a referendum on “the Squad” (as much as he’s trying to make that happen). But, he can push the debate onto the terrain where he’s most comfortable — culture, race, immigration — and force Democrats to make unforced errors. CONT.
Amy Walter, Cook Political Report