A writer for Politico talks to Democrat operatives who, if you read carefully, make the point they're worried about urban unrest activating Trump voters to turn out and reelect him. They are of course very careful not to criticize the urban unrest as those creating the chaos are Democrats.
These pols do seem to understand that former and potential Trump voters are unsympathetic to rioters and looters, and to Democrats who snuggle up to rioters and looters. The unrest, coming just 5 months before the election, and after the corona virus is sorta over, is well positioned to motivate Trump voters to use his reelection to send a message to those causing the trouble.
Urban unrest has the added advantage of taking voter minds off the economic slow-down caused by the virus and the shut-down that it occasioned. How long that distraction will last is unclear, as is the duration of "the troubles."
As to the question in the title, if not a silent majority, a silent electoral college majority existed in 2016. Why not in 2020? We all remember how surprised and pleased we were when Trump won after the polls said he'd lose.
