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Issues Surrounding The Debate Between Trump, Harris And Political Violence (2)

Another curious aspect of presidential type democracy absent from the one practised in Nigeria is the U.S. electoral college system, which made it possible for Trump to win the presidency in 2016 despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton.

After Trump defeated Biden in the June 27 pres­idential debate, he is now reported to have lost the September 11 debate to Harris, according to a CNN flash poll. This result is seen by some as a form of revenge for Harris after Trump’s earlier victory over Biden. However, polls taken shortly after debates may not reflect the outcome accurately. Despite Harris’s strong performance in style and demeanour during the debate, Trump remains favoured by some voters on key issues like the economy and immigra­tion, which are crucial for the 2024 presidential race.

Interestingly, President Biden’s bid for a second term was derailed by a disastrous debate outcome that led his party to replace him with Vice Presi­dent Harris as the DNC candidate. Biden’s failure to manage the economy, which has been plagued by inflation and a high cost of living, was his main shortcoming. He was not facing impeachment, a common reason for modern U.S. presidents failing to seek re-election. For instance, Richard Nixon did not seek a second term due to the Watergate scandal, while Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden all faced challenges either from party renomination issues or defeat by the opposition.

Carter’s loss in 1980 was due to several factors:

1. Economic Troubles: High inflation (14.8%), un­employment (7.5%), and an energy crisis created a difficult economic environment. Similar economic issues are affecting Biden today.

2. Iran Hostage Crisis: The 444-day hostage crisis made Carter appear weak, paralleling how the ongo­ing Israeli-Gaza conflict has affected Biden’s image.

3. Foreign Policy Issues: Carter faced criticism for his handling of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and other foreign policy matters. Similarly, Biden is criticized for the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

4. Internal Party Conflicts: Carter’s primary chal­lenge from Senator Ted Kennedy weakened him, similar to how Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent run is impacting Biden.

5. Challenger’s Strong Campaign: Ronald Rea­gan’s effective campaign capitalized on Carter’s weaknesses. Trump is often compared to Reagan for his outsider status and campaign style.

6. Shift to Conservatism: The 1980 election marked a shift towards conservatism, a trend that echoes today as Trump positions himself against the liberal agenda of Harris.

This shift highlights a continuing struggle in American politics between conservative and liber­al ideologies.

It is remarkable how the political landscape in the U.S. in 2024 mirrors that of 1980, 44 years ago. The parallels between Ronald Reagan in 1980 and Don­ald Trump today, as well as between Jimmy Carter then and Joe Biden now, are striking. Unlike Carter, Biden anticipated a similar outcome and chose to step aside, allowing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the DNC ticket. This strategic move has given the DNC new momentum, making the current race a close contest.

If the RNC had similarly replaced Trump’s vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance, with some­one like Nikki Haley or Sarah Palin, the dynamics of the race might have shifted significantly. Haley might have countered Harris’s appeal to minority voters, and Palin could have strengthened gender equality arguments, which currently favour the RNC.

Pope Francis’s recent comments on the U.S. pres­idential race, urging Catholic voters to choose the “lesser of two evils,” might not dramatically change the decisions of the 52 million U.S. Catholics, but it could clarify choices for some voters and heighten political tensions. Pope Francis criticized both can­didates on moral grounds: Trump for his stance on immigration and Harris for her support of abortion rights. His intervention stands out because he typi­cally avoids commenting on party politics.

Just like Trump’s controversial comments about Haitian immigrants and the resulting threats against them such as the claim that there have been bomb threats in schools in the Haitian community in Ohio, calling Trump a threat to democracy whose re-election would result in the end of democracy may have contributed to the recent spikes in assassina­tion attempts against the 45th president of the U.S.

His unconventional approach, including his strict immigration policies targeting illegal immigrants, as is the case in Europe where illegal immigrants are also under attack, challenges American traditional practices and may contribute to the animosity he faces.

Also, the criticism Trump receives from Amer­ican technocrats about his alleged departure from traditional political norms is akin to the back­lash faced by past leaders who were deemed to have deviated from established practices. Like Ronald Reagan and Trump, who both entered politics from outside traditional bureaucratic paths, Trump’s outsider status has shaped both his support and opposition.

Despite currently facing prosecution, if not per­secution, Trump remains a prominent contender and powerful front-runner for the presidency in the upcoming November 5th election. The belief that his repeated escapes from assassination attempts might signify a higher destiny suggests he could be poised to return as the 47th president of the U.S.

May God save Donald Trump.

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