Do Presidents campaign as more extreme and then govern in the center...

[Goldwater]

Campaigned more extreme: Obama, Bill Clinton, Reagan84

Not much difference: Bush, Reagan80

Governed more extreme: Trump, Dubya

I suspect Dukakis is the only D nominee since 2000 who would have governed more extreme, but only because his campaign was so milquetoast. So, it seems Ds campaign more extreme, while the picture is more mixed with Rs though they tend to govern more extreme.

Trump's campaign was less extreme than his government? Did we watch both watch the same campaign?

[Goldwater]

Campaigned more extreme: Obama, Bill Clinton, Reagan84

Not much difference: Bush, Reagan80

Governed more extreme: Trump, Dubya

I suspect Dukakis is the only D nominee since 2000 who would have governed more extreme, but only because his campaign was so milquetoast. So, it seems Ds campaign more extreme, while the picture is more mixed with Rs though they tend to govern more extreme.

Trump's campaign was less extreme than his government? Did we watch both watch the same campaign?

I didnt say his campaign wasn't extreme and you have selective memory probably concentrating on immigration. The reason his governing is more extreme is that many voters didnt really believe he was that extreme on social issues (ie, supreme court) and some of his economic issues like infrastructure could have also been from the left, while his governing is basically to privatize the infrastructure. He also campaigned anti-war. And slogans like lock her up are infantile but not ideological.

Ah yes, the notoriously anti-war candidate Donald "take out their families" Trump.