If Trump had won with margins similar to 2016, what would have been the lesson for Democrats?

[EJ24]

?

[Pericles]

Then Trump's personality wouldn't have been enough of a vote winner, so Democrats would have made a mistake by not having a stronger economic pitch or at least emphasizing it more because obviously Trump would have won because voters trusted Trump on the economy. Plus there would have been the same recriminations that actually occurred-that they didn't distance themselves strongly enough from the extremist elements of their party and so let themselves get defined as the socialists who would abolish the police and lockdown the country (or at least swing voters would have not thought this was completely ridiculous). While Biden was less vulnerable to these attacks, him looking old could have made voters more likely to see him as weak and controlled by other elements, compared to someone with Obama-like youth and vigour.

[Mr. Smith]

Opt. 4

The main bosses are still living in the 80's/90's. So naturally Biden would be too far left.

[Bootes Void]

Incumbency is a very strong advantage in politics

[JGibson]

COVID restrictions fatigue, especially in regards to remote schooling and indoor dining (and mask mandates to some extent).

[xavier110]

Hm. I guess this hinges on what you mean by “lesson for Democrats.”

My sense is that it would reinforce the existing world views of the left and the establishment:
— the left (Bernie and Warren-crats, Justice Dems, etc) would have said Bernie would have won, lol. Which, IMO, isn’t the right lesson, but they would have over-indexed on populism and pointed to a Biden loss as a continued indictment of the ruling class.
— the establishment would have said BLM/riots/leftists dragged down Biden, and that he did as well as he did while Ds down ballot were destroyed was a sign that centrism rules supreme electorally.

Honestly, I don’t think either “lesson” holds true for national elections. Ultimately these presidential elections turn more on emotion, charisma and relatability. Most Ds in waiting are voids of charisma or extremely unrelatable to the average Joe. IMO, they got lucky with Trump governing as a right winger and that Biden won over Warren, Harris, etc.

[dw93]

The progressives would stick with their post 2016 belief that only a true progressive can win while the establishment would say BLM, the riots, defund the police and woke culture weighted down Biden (which these arguably made the election in real life much closer than it otherwise would've been).

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

To try to get rid of the electoral college.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

That Kamala Harris was a weak running mate pick.

[darklordoftech]

All of the above would be blamed.