I think it's a toss up. He relies on exposure, and he's getting a tonne. He also relies on his brand, which is associated with 'winning', and that might end up somewhat tarnished.
His greatest ally so far might be the people who love to hate him. Whenever shit looks like it's about to stick, he tends to throw out something that will get our backs up, but means nothing to the people he's targetting. Instead of column inches criticising him on the issues that hurt him, the reportage and social media content revolves around 'our' reactions, which usually mean absolutely nothing to anyone remotely interested in the Trump brand, indeed they serve to mark us out as people to ignore, people who are associated with being very rude towards and ignorant of the values his target demographic identify with.
Deaths and health, tho, plus the economy, are very universal topics. Also, being let down by the uncaring federal government. In terms of his persona, he's being asked to embody something very different than the smart mouthed tough guy.. it's hard to know how well it will be recieved.
He ought to be wide open to huge counter attacks. I think Biden might be ..uhhh... biden his time. It makes a certain amount of horse sense to lay low, let Trump's face and voice deliver the news and forever be associated with a period of chaos, uncertainty and unhappiness and so on.
Starmer would seem to be in a similair position. Neither guy's feet are under the desk, and whatever they do, the incumbent has the massive advantage of actually being able to deliver, which is what people want.. even if it's only superficial gestures, they are going to be valued more than criticism of someone who realistically can't do anything. Unless the Dems knocked it square out of the park, and actually DID find a way to deliver help to people. But that's a very, very high risk strategy.
