It’s pretty clear by now, several weeks after the GOP primary ended, that Trump won’t completely walk away from the elements of racism that fueled his rise during the primary.
It’s also clear that most if not all of the GOP office holders will end up endorsing him, despite his lack of coherence about any policy, his dangerous rhetoric, and his authoritarian nature.
I’m interested in seeing how the White electorate will respond to Donald Trump and his build a wall campaign.
On almost any objective review of Donald Trump, he’s not fit for the office of the Presidency. Yet whatever chance he may have to win, will come from White voters (as per most GOP candidates in recent decades.
Gallup election trends
%White vote
2012 Romney Obama
56 44
2008 McCain Obama
55 45
2004 Bush Kerry
56 44
2000 Bush Gore Nader
55 43 2
1996 Dole Clinton Perot
45 46 9
1992 Bush Clinton Perot
41 39 20
1988 Bush Dukakis
59 41
We all know about the Southern Strategy that has contributed to the White vote usually going the GOP’s way. But with Trump being so open about drawing upon racial fear and anxiety, will it help him or hurt him with White voters? I am fearful that it may help him. If a Trump-Clinton match-up is anywhere close to being even, we are looking at a massive landslide election for Clinton. But if Trump can get to around 60% of the White vote, he could end up on top.
I personally don’t know of that many people that support Trump. For folks that have had conversations with his supporters, is he simply vocalizing the racial anxieties that exist for most White Americans?