To an observer like me, it’s incredible that it’s even a thing tbh. It’s unbelievable to me that any sane, rational, decent person would even countenance voting for Trump, irrespective of their politics.
It's been a long, long time coming, I believe, Since well before Trump himself. Trump has got himself into a position where he has a considerable portion of the population who feel disfranchised, left behind by global economic trends that have affected certain parts of the country heavily, in short, he is that paradoxical thing — a politician who has people convinced that he is
outside politics. And as such, the only one who can speak for them. It doesn't seem to matter much to them
what he does: that's beside the point, finally. He has a semi-messianic role. The very slogan “Make America Great Again” doesn't bear much analysis. If I stopped a hundred people on the street in Dayton or Des Moines and asked them to give some content to that, I really what wonder what they'd be able to give me in precise terms.
Now we can debate about it being a huge piece of sleight-of-hand all we like. Doesn't change it.
Mutatis mutandis, it is the way Le Pen and her sidekick Bardella have sold themselves to their particular constituency.
Harris will not get any of those people to change their minds and vote for her, I believe. It's whether she can get the undecideds onto her side — the young; the people who haven't voted perhaps for a long time for
any candidate. The unmotivated, or the marginally motivated.
It'll be a tight call if it goes her way.