He appears to have successfully convinced the American public his return will mean lower prices. A welcome concept for a country that suffered through a period of four-decade-high inflation. Unfortunately for Biden and Harris, even though inflation appears to have been steadied, the public has not yet gotten used to the new higher level of prices.
While many of the economy's fundamentals like unemployment and growth are strong, inflation is political poison. Kamala Harris never seemed totally comfortable when discussing the economy.
Immigration may well prove to be the major misstep by the Biden/Harris team. They came to office and overturned many of Trump's hardline immigration policies. They had mocked his plans for a border wall and softened restrictions. Illegal immigration swelled during their term, reaching a monthly high in December last year of nearly 250,000 people
None of these scandals seemed to impact his support. Perhaps the public doesn't believe any of them were disqualifying. Perhaps they think other issues like the economy and immigration are more important.
None of these scandals seemed to impact his support. Perhaps the public doesn't believe any of them were disqualifying. Perhaps they think other issues like the economy and immigration are more important.
Whatever the case may be, the American people know Donald Trump to a detail that is quite unprecedented. This isn't a vote steeped in ignorance.
There is a notable cohort of the population who genuinely adores him, who see him as their nation's saviour.
But they weren't the reason he was able to eke out this victory; there were many people who voted for Donald Trump, who aren't blindly enamoured by him.
They have experienced four years of the alternative and decided he deserved another shot.
They have experienced four years of the alternative and decided he deserved another shot.
'Inflation is political poison'. Nail on the head.
To many millions of Americans the economy was the no 1 issue. The improving situation there now (slowing inflation, falling interest rates, good jobs data etc), yes came too late to save the Democrats. Your own personal standard of living, is so often one of most important issues for voters in any democracy. Certainly usually more important than any international issues. Americans ain't any different, and yeah on average maybe more insular than most. But are Kiwi voters for example that different?
The Yanks have had a few very tough economic years, and rightly or wrongly many blame alot of that on the current administration.
Trump's hard line on illegal immigration and crime (bedfellows in his eyes) also won many hearts. Especially it seems somewhat ironically with America's very large legal Latino population.