Trump’s support within the Republican Party is far stronger than Biden’s within the Democratic Party. Among Republicans, 60% said they wanted Trump to run again for president in 2024. In contrast, just 37% of Democrats wanted Biden to run again in three years, a devastating sign of Biden’s weakening support within his own party.
On the other hand, Trump’s support among Republicans was at around 90% before last year’s election. And a comparison of conditions under Trump vs. Biden certainly comes out in Trump’s favor. So what accounts for the drop in Trump’s popularity among Republicans?
Two things come to mind. First, of course, was not winning reelection in 2020. Any incumbent who doesn’t win reelection bears that stigma.
Second, and in my view more important, is Trump’s refusal to accept he lost the admittedly atypical-in-pandemic reelection effort. I suspect in many eyes being a bad loser is at least somewhat disqualifying.
Trump needs to force himself to shut up about the 2020 outcome. He should focus on (a) Biden’s failures, and (b) the desirability of reestablishing the good things he had going on while in office, and the completion of the border wall.
If he does those things he can win renomination and perhaps win back the presidency. Given what we know of Trump’s impulsiveness, the issue is in real doubt.
