Donald Trump has said that he loves ill-educated people. And well he might, since they form part of the bedrock of the coalition that gave him the Republican presidential coalition. At this moment, two sayings make a relevant political point: (1) There is nothing more dangerous than ignorance in action; […] Read more »
A presidential candidate can’t threaten to imprison his opponent if he wants to live in a democracy
… Democracy is a process. Elections are held; winners take office; and policies are implemented. Crucially, it is expected that the “losers” from this process — those whose policies are not implemented — will not turn to extra-systemic (read: violent revolutionary) means to overturn those policies. Why? Because they can […] Read more »
Will The Trump Tape Have A Bigger Effect On The Race Than Past Controversies?
… The response to the Trump tape suggests that we might be seeing a real change in the political landscape. “Game change” moments are few and far between, and Hillary Clinton was already leading Trump pretty comfortably in national and swing state polls. But what might make the Trump tape […] Read more »
Forget Trump’s temperament and Clinton’s stamina. Voters care less and less about candidates’ personalities
Is the 2016 presidential election a personality contest? That’s what many observers apparently think — and it’s how many interpreted Monday night’s debate between the two nominees. … Of course, the “personality contest” narrative isn’t new. Ronald Reagan’s charisma and Bill Clinton’s ability to connect with voters are, in the […] Read more »
Candidate Gaffes Are Overrated; Health Concerns Could Influence Voters More
Hillary Clinton undoubtedly had a tough weekend, but how much will it affect the election? … First, the evidence is clear that campaign gaffes rarely matter. Most people have made up their minds by this point in the race; polls after the party conventions tend to be relatively stable. Moreover, […] Read more »
The Rise of Presidential Extemists
Political scientists teach their students that to win elections, the parties in a competitive two-party system must take policy positions that appeal to centrist “swing voters.” If voters choose the candidate closest to them ideologically, moderates will hold the crucial balance of power necessary to win a majority. But contemporary […] Read more »