Donald Trump’s double haters
As the presidential election inches closer, “double haters” are in focus again. This group of voters has trouble voting for either President Joe Biden or Donald Trump. According to a recent ABC News/Ipsos survey, a significant majority of independents are double haters, and so their action (or inaction) on November 5 could determine the results. Fortunately, recent events are turning the tide of double haters against Trump’s favor.
The survey reveals that 67% of double-hater independents believe Trump’s legal issues will prevent him from effectively carrying out his presidential duties if he gains a second term. In the meantime, more than half (52%) of all independents surveyed believe the verdict was correct and that Trump should end his candidacy as a result.
According to Jefrey Pollock, a Democratic pollster who spoke with Axios, “They may dislike both candidates, but the intensity on Trump’s negative is higher.” He added that a “campaign that has the resources to persuade those individuals has some advantage.” Indeed, as Axios points out, the Biden campaign believe that this and other polling data are evidence that Biden can win over double haters in time for the election.
In April 2020, I wrote about double haters in the 2016 and 2020 elections. Double haters of Trump and Hillary Clinton appeared to lean Republican but then flocked to Trump after FBI Director James Comey’s announcement about reopening the investigation into Clinton’s emails.
Trump’s recent 34 felony convictions appear to be having this same effect but in reverse. Double haters are seeing Trump’s criminality as running contrary to what constitutes presidential responsibility and fitness for office. The election is still months away, but, thanks to Trump, double haters are trending toward Biden, and that’s a positive sign for the continuation of our democracy.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month