In a recent discussion with Republican voters in Iowa, I was surprised– and then, not surprised– at the level of skepticism expressed towards Donald Trump. These are Republican voters. Most of them supported him in 2016 and 2020. They believed the innumerable stupid things he said, without proof, without objective verification. And now, suddenly, some of them feel that he has become self-centered and self-pitying. They even actually seem to suddenly feel that his divisiveness is a liability.
Four out of eight of these selected voters said they would not vote for Trump if he were convicted of the criminal charges he is facing. Really? That matters to some Republicans? That is astounding. We have been given the impression by the media that Trump supporters are rigid, inflexible, and devoted. Yet, most of the eight people interviewed had serious misgivings. They didn’t like the chaos. They didn’t like the whining about being persecuted. They are not going to vote for Biden, by any means, but some of them sounded like they might not vote at all.
I don’t think the media was wrong. I think these voters have become more conscious of what people might think of them if they continue to parrot Donald Trump’s idiotic incoherent campaign tropes.
If this is an accurate reflection of the real Republican core, Trump has a problem.
They sounded like they don’t want people to think they are stupid.
At least one of them asked the very solid, germane question: what, exactly, will you (Republican candidate) do about the border? We all agree there is a problem: what solution do you offer. He observed that none of them gave any specifics.
One striking thing: they don’t flatter Ron DeSantis for not criticizing Trump.
One of them (John, 67, engineer) said this:
Mr. President, do you know how to serve us humbly? Strength and humility go together. Strength and bullying don’t. But I’d really like to have him address why he thinks that it has to be that way. It doesn’t.
Huh. And I’ll bet he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020. And just now has come to the realization that admitting it might make him look stupid.