GOP senators say there is less enthusiasm for former President Trump among Republican-leaning voters compared to 2016, a drop in voter energy that was apparent when only 15 percent of Iowa’s registered Republicans showed up for Monday’s caucuses.

Lawmakers acknowledge the weather was a factor behind the low turnout in Iowa but point to other signs of diminished enthusiasm for Trump, something that could hurt down-ballot Republican candidates in swing states.

Senate Republicans hope that Trump’s problems will be balanced by lower enthusiasm among Democrats for President Biden, though they expect Trump being atop the ticket will drive Democratic voters to the polls in large numbers.

Another concern among GOP senators is that Biden will have a big fundraising advantage over Trump, who is pouring his resources into his legal defense in the face of four criminal trials and two civil cases.

  • thefartographer@lemm.ee
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    10 months ago

    I’m just gonna say it: I think part of the reason there’s less energy than 2016 is because the president isn’t black.

    • athos77@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      Obama wasn’t running in 2016. The real fear of the party of misogynists and racists was that, after having to endure 8 years of a black man in the White House, they might then have to endure listening to a woman.

      • thefartographer@lemm.ee
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        10 months ago

        I’m sure two things can be true at once, but considering that the party literally is powered by anger, I think they were invigorated by their rage of being led by a black person. On top of that, they had less fear about accidentally speaking out against the front-runner in a way that got them called “racists.”

        Remember when racists used to be scared of being identified? Those were almost ever so slightly better days…

      • ferralcat@monyet.cc
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        10 months ago

        I’m super curious if they nominated Haley how it would go, but democrats didn’t do much better. When there is a woman on the ballot the bar suddenly gets shot to the moon.