Will the U.S. Riots Hurt Trump in November?

[J.A. Prufrock]

Nothing will hurt him unless the population actually votes this time.
In 2016 only 25% of eligible voters voted against him.

Without looking it up, didn't Clinton win the popular vote in 2016? Are you saying the more people that vote, the more it will hurt or help #BunkerBitch?

I might be wrong, but I don't think #BunkerBitch's actions the past 3-plus years earned him many new voters. He'll always have base, but many who didn't vote in 2016, either from believing Clinton would win, hating both candidates or just plain laziness, will be out in full force in November after seeing what a travesty #BunkerBitch is.

 

[WyattEarp]

People are absolutely looking for social cover to vote Trump. It takes a lot to admit you were wrong and change streams. It's even harder in a highly polarized environment where you feel you are now forced to support stuff you don't want.

But while the riots were big news for a bit, unless Trump can get the cops to provoke more rioting, they are going to fade while the protests will continue till at *least* Juneteenth. The protests are going to be the story people remember. Some will remember the riots but they just weren't as big a deal and won't be unless someone manages to reignite them.

If the vote was right now I think they might help Trump. I just don't see them being a big part of the equation by November.

I think the scars from the riots and COVID will be a factor in November. I say scars because I sense that both have disturbed people. Five months isn't enough time for the riots to fade away. The Democrat Mayors are also posturing and I don't think they are doing Biden any good. I will admit Trump hasn't been handling things very well, but what matters is how do moderate and independent voters react to the events.

 

[Butler1000]

Without looking it up, didn't Clinton win the popular vote in 2016? Are you saying the more people that vote, the more it will hurt or help #BunkerBitch?

I might be wrong, but I don't think #BunkerBitch's actions the past 3-plus years earned him many new voters. He'll always have base, but many who didn't vote in 2016, either from believing Clinton would win, hating both candidates or just plain laziness, will be out in full force in November after seeing what a travesty #BunkerBitch is.

The question is can Biden increase his vote total. I've seen a trend of third party/protest voting. Started in 2016

 

[mandrill]

I think the scars from the riots and COVID will be a factor in November. I say scars because I sense that both have disturbed people. Five months isn't enough time for the riots to fade away. The Democrat Mayors are also posturing and I don't think they are doing Biden any good. I will admit Trump hasn't been handling things very well, but what matters is how do moderate and independent voters react to the events.

Trump's polls are already plunging. The people who fear the protests and crave police action are already part of his base and he will accrue no new voters in that block.

Most people support the protests. Outside the Fox News orbit, the protests do not even seem controversial. The police reaction has shocked many. And Trump is unable to act as a credible leader should. Not one speech about "uniting the country" and "America must heal its wounds" - BASIC Leader101 type of shit. His one photo op was screwed up badly and ended up being a negative.

The initial reaction of most to Trump (aka Bunker Bitch) and how he hid during the protests will solidify and be a bedrock attitude by November.

 

[WyattEarp]

Trump's polls are already plunging. The people who fear the protests and crave police action are already part of his base and he will accrue no new voters in that block.

Most people support the protests. Outside the Fox News orbit, the protests do not even seem controversial. The police reaction has shocked many. And Trump is unable to act as a credible leader should. Not one speech about "uniting the country" and "America must heal its wounds" - BASIC Leader101 type of shit. His one photo op was screwed up badly and ended up being a negative.

The initial reaction of most to Trump (aka Bunker Bitch) and how he hid during the protests will solidify and be a bedrock attitude by November.

You have to look at the different questions being asked to get a better sense of how fluid things are surrounding the protests, the riots and defunding the police. Yes, people are sympathetic of the protests. Americans were disturbed by what they saw happen to George Floyd.

After that, there is no discernible consensus forming around all the other questions.