Not Even Obama Could Have Defeated Trump in 2016

[Pericles]

As badly as Clinton destroyed Trump in the debates, imagine how badly Obama would've beaten him.

Obama was crushed in the first debate of 2012.

[Pericles]

As badly as Clinton destroyed Trump in the debates, imagine how badly Obama would've beaten him.

Obama was crushed in the first debate of 2012.

That's a good point, considering how he also badly lost the next two debates and Trump is just as good at debating as Romney.

I wouldn't say that given Obama did OK in the second debate and won the third one. Trump was crushed in all 3 debates. He lacked the mental capacity to stay focused and on-message for 90 minutes.

[Pericles]

Obama's favorability ratings were so much higher than Clinton's that it is very difficult to believe that he wouldn't have done at least 1 percent better in PA, MI, and WI.

Obama's favorability ratings only became high once the focus of partisanship shifted away from Obama towards Clinton. Prior to that, her favorability ratings (69% in early 2013) were higher than his (41% in 2013). If he were running for office this shift would never have happened.

I think we're confusing personal favorability ratings and approval ratings.