Trump Leaves Office with a 51% Approval Rating

It's embarrassing that you'd need to explain this.

 

I bet you can talk yourself into anything

 

LOL, that's one way to put it. The non-affiliated, less to non-partisans were just sick and tired of Trump's childish antics and schoolyard bullying tactics. I agree, substance or call it politics took a backseat this election with independents.

Or one could say they tired of Trump's flippant behavior. This election I would say they just wanted someone who acts and behaves like a president. In 2022 the substance and what Biden does or doesn't do will come into play once again. You'll have more beauty contest in the future as independents now make up approximately 40% of the electorate. Up from 30% in 2006 as both major parties are shrinking.

Independents are finicky and can have wild swings from election to election. Regardless, it is this group that decides elections. At least on a national basis.

 

Good post as always, with one caveat, I feel McCain was charismatic, but the populous was tired of Iraq at the time, which McCain had backed completely. That issue did have an impact IMHO. If the war issue wasn't so profound, McCain would have done better.

 

He wishes

the aggregate puts him much much much lower round 38%

 

That isn't all they said.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/e...ctions_electoral_college_map_no_toss_ups.html

 

I'd say compared to the young, energetic always smiling Obama, McCain didn't have half that charisma. But that is in the eye of the beholder. I think the recession hurt McCain much more than Iraq. But that is my opinion. It was most likely both, a one two punch. McCain really didn't stand a chance.

 

That's half the story, here's the rest.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/2016_elections_electoral_college_map.html

203-164 with 171 in the tossup column. Then RCP took the tossup states and made their predictions. Still a 272-266 is far from the romp you say the polls predicted. The polls predicted the above link, RCP group of experts provided then provided your link predictions.

In other words, the above link is the polls, the link you provided from RCP is pundits, forecasters weighing in. I find it interesting that the polls on 6 Nov, the last ones had Trump ahead in Pennsylvania and tied in Michigan. Wisconsin hadn't been polled for two weeks, the last was the later part of October.