re: #54 KGxvi

Bush had a few things going for him that Trump doesn’t.

Through most of 2003, Bush’s approval ratings were in the 60s. Even in 2004, as the election went on, he never dropped much below 46-47%. Trump would strangle a hooker live on Fox News for 45% approval at this point.

On top of that, Kerry wasn’t a particularly great nominee, nor was he particularly inspiring. Trump isn’t going to have the luxury of a less than stellar opponent in 2020.

re: #45 HappyWarrior

Trump not having HRC or being a blank slate is going to hinder him imo. Not an attack on HRC but more so the Dem nominee won’t have the same years of right wing rage against her or him.

A reminder to all: it was the Swift Boat Liars that did Kerry in; the Republicans don’t need an HRC who had decades of verbal assaults against her; they can manufacture outrage on the spot and doom a candidacy because the press won’t hold them to account. The GOP tried the same thing against Obama but it didn’t stick (Rev Wright, Bill Ayers) because Obama had such charisma when his game was on. Most candidates don’t have that degree of personal magnetism. So let’s not assume that the Republicans or their Russian puppet masters won’t bring the Democratic nominee down — look at what’s happening to Northam, not due to some recent error but something that happened 35 years ago.