What if keeping Trump off the campaign trail via lawfare is good for him

[Donald Trump’s Toupée]

Trump is his worst enemy… keeping him in the courtroom 4 out of the 5 working days decreases chances of getting in his own way. Kind of like the Biden Basement Strategy of 2020.

[Progressive Pessimist]

"Lawfare"...ugh.

This trial will be over well before election day. Trump will have the entirety of the fall and summer to make an ass out of himself.

[Rand]

Basement Biden and Defendant Don star in No Campaign For Old Men.

[DrScholl]

You're assuming he has the energy to even campaign. The trials aren't the only thing keeping him off the campaign trail, his age and lack of energy is.

[TML]

Remember that in 2020, Democrats greatly reduced in-person campaigning due to the pandemic while Republicans mostly maintained their usual levels of in-person campaigning, and that was an important factor in Republicans overperforming/Democrats underperforming polls (for example, 538's final NPV polling average as of Election Day was D+8.4, while the actual NPV result was D+4.5). If this logic were applied to a hypothetically imprisoned Trump, it should be obvious which side would benefit more.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Remember that in 2020, Democrats greatly reduced in-person campaigning due to the pandemic while Republicans mostly maintained their usual levels of in-person campaigning, and that was an important factor in Republicans overperforming/Democrats underperforming polls (for example, 538's final NPV polling average as of Election Day was D+8.4, while the actual NPV result was D+4.5). If this logic were applied to a hypothetically imprisoned Trump, it should be obvious which side would benefit more.

Overall, especially after 2022, this is a factor in this election that doesn't get discussed enough. The Democrats this year seem to be better organized and that may make the difference in turnout and with the margins in the major battlegrounds.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

The polls keep saying that it's good for him, the polls but we haven't voted yet

[Pres Mike]

The trial should be wrapped up by Memorial Day

Its unlikely for any other trial to occur this year

[Skill and Chance]

Trump is his worst enemy… keeping him in the courtroom 4 out of the 5 working days decreases chances of getting in his own way. Kind of like the Biden Basement Strategy of 2020.

Also wonder if he's going to nearly hold Biden to Hochul's margin in NYC LOL.

[mjba257]

The trial should be wrapped up by Memorial Day

Its unlikely for any other trial to occur this year

More likely early-mid june

[Pres Mike]

Remember that in 2020, Democrats greatly reduced in-person campaigning due to the pandemic while Republicans mostly maintained their usual levels of in-person campaigning, and that was an important factor in Republicans overperforming/Democrats underperforming polls (for example, 538's final NPV polling average as of Election Day was D+8.4, while the actual NPV result was D+4.5). If this logic were applied to a hypothetically imprisoned Trump, it should be obvious which side would benefit more.

Overall, especially after 2022, this is a factor in this election that doesn't get discussed enough. The Democrats this year seem to be better organized and that may make the difference in turnout and with the margins in the major battlegrounds.

Democrats returned to in person campaigning and door to door for the Jan 2021 Georgia senate runoffs. And it worked!

Mind you, this was at the peak of the pandemic

[RFK Jr.’s Brain Worm]

You're assuming he has the energy to even campaign. The trials aren't the only thing keeping him off the campaign trail, his age and lack of energy is.

Yeah, definitely agree on this. Even before this trial started, he wasn’t out barnstorming like in his halcyon days.

[Obama24]

You're assuming he has the energy to even campaign. The trials aren't the only thing keeping him off the campaign trail, his age and lack of energy is.

Yeah, definitely agree on this. Even before this trial started, he wasn’t out barnstorming like in his halcyon days.

In fairness, his halcyon days were almost 10 years ago now, when he was 70, versus almost 80.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Trump is his worst enemy… keeping him in the courtroom 4 out of the 5 working days decreases chances of getting in his own way. Kind of like the Biden Basement Strategy of 2020.

He should still be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for his crimes. I don't care if it's good or bad for his poll numbers, that's entirely beside the point.

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

He is not being kept off the campaign trail.

Instead he has been choosing not to campaign on days when he does not have the trial (basically every wednesday and weekends).

He simply prefers to play golf than to campaign:

https://twitter.com/KristenhCNN/status/1783510509934780566

Trump spent Wednesday playing golf at his Bedminster club, sources told CNN. Wednesday's the only weekday court isn't in for his NY criminal trial. Trump has lamented that trial has kept him off campaign trail: “Im not in GA or FL or NC campaigning like I should be" he said Mon.

[DrScholl]

You're assuming he has the energy to even campaign. The trials aren't the only thing keeping him off the campaign trail, his age and lack of energy is.

Yeah, definitely agree on this. Even before this trial started, he wasn’t out barnstorming like in his halcyon days.

In fairness, his halcyon days were almost 10 years ago now, when he was 70, versus almost 80.

The fact of the matter is he's not healthy or fit enough for the campaign trail. If being older is such a problem then he can't be expected to govern much better than he is campaigning.

[Obama24]

You're assuming he has the energy to even campaign. The trials aren't the only thing keeping him off the campaign trail, his age and lack of energy is.

Yeah, definitely agree on this. Even before this trial started, he wasn’t out barnstorming like in his halcyon days.

In fairness, his halcyon days were almost 10 years ago now, when he was 70, versus almost 80.

The fact of the matter is he's not healthy or fit enough for the campaign trail. If being older is such a problem then he can't be expected to govern much better than he is campaigning.

I don't believe he would be governing with four indictments hanging over him, if he is elected again.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

You're assuming he has the energy to even campaign. The trials aren't the only thing keeping him off the campaign trail, his age and lack of energy is.

Yeah, definitely agree on this. Even before this trial started, he wasn’t out barnstorming like in his halcyon days.

In fairness, his halcyon days were almost 10 years ago now, when he was 70, versus almost 80.

The fact of the matter is he's not healthy or fit enough for the campaign trail. If being older is such a problem then he can't be expected to govern much better than he is campaigning.

I don't believe he would be governing with four indictments hanging over him, if he is elected again.

Trump won't win

[Inmate Trump]

"Lawfare"

STFU you treason-loving traitor.

[pbrower2a]

"Lawfare"...ugh.

This trial will be over well before election day. Trump will have the entirety of the fall and summer to make an ass out of himself.

Michigan has been slow to formally indict Trump on the "fake electors" scheme. This is surprising because Michigan has been swift to go after the fake electors. It could be that Michigan is willing to go last to prepare to do maximal damage with such timing.

[pbrower2a]

You're assuming he has the energy to even campaign. The trials aren't the only thing keeping him off the campaign trail, his age and lack of energy is.

Yeah, definitely agree on this. Even before this trial started, he wasn’t out barnstorming like in his halcyon days.

In fairness, his halcyon days were almost 10 years ago now, when he was 70, versus almost 80.

The fact of the matter is he's not healthy or fit enough for the campaign trail. If being older is such a problem then he can't be expected to govern much better than he is campaigning.

I don't believe he would be governing with four indictments hanging over him, if he is elected again.

Trump won't win

He has a crippled campaign due to his legal foibles. Full vindication of him is legally possible, but socially impossible.

[President Johnson]

Remember that in 2020, Democrats greatly reduced in-person campaigning due to the pandemic while Republicans mostly maintained their usual levels of in-person campaigning, and that was an important factor in Republicans overperforming/Democrats underperforming polls (for example, 538's final NPV polling average as of Election Day was D+8.4, while the actual NPV result was D+4.5). If this logic were applied to a hypothetically imprisoned Trump, it should be obvious which side would benefit more.

Somehow a majority of the media and a sizeable number of posters here are essentially spinning almost everything as negative for Biden and positive for Trump. So Trump is now supposed to benefit from being off the trail while Biden has criticzed for it in 2020 during a pandemic (while Trump is on trial, which would have finished any candidate before).

[Mr. Smith]

Remember that in 2020, Democrats greatly reduced in-person campaigning due to the pandemic while Republicans mostly maintained their usual levels of in-person campaigning, and that was an important factor in Republicans overperforming/Democrats underperforming polls (for example, 538's final NPV polling average as of Election Day was D+8.4, while the actual NPV result was D+4.5). If this logic were applied to a hypothetically imprisoned Trump, it should be obvious which side would benefit more.

Somehow a majority of the media and a sizeable number of posters here are essentially spinning almost everything as negative for Biden and positive for Trump. So Trump is now supposed to benefit from being off the trail while Biden has criticzed for it in 2020 during a pandemic (while Trump is on trial, which would have finished any candidate before).

Trump destroys himself when he's trying to campaign seriously, Biden saves himself.

[PeteB]

While there are benefits to Trump for being kept in court (for a start he avoids making unforced errors), overall I think it is a net negative for him.  His reputation is taking a beating with undecided and independent voters, with each new trial revelation, and he is not shoring MAGA support in person.  In Trump's case, there is no real replacement for personally campaigning.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

J6 is gonna be in the minds of voters come Eday that's why Trump is losing in the latest poll, as I said previously, you can't trust ultra right wing polls