Trump Is at the Center of the Election in the Worst Way

Donald Trump is experiencing a moment of irony.

Frequently described as egocentric, he finds himself at the center of a reelection campaign that revolves around him, his words and his efforts. Which, at least at the moment, is more bad than good.

According to reports, 100 days away from the Nov. 3 election when the presidential campaign has not yet been formally launched, President Donald Trump finds himself as many as 15 points behind the still presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden.

The disadvantage is considerable, but not definitive.

The problem for Trump is that his reelection campaign will cost him work and resources, and he’ll go back to being the divisive candidate he was in his first campaign, in a country even more socially, economically and politically polarized than it was then. This same style has put him at a disadvantage in typically Democratic states, as well as states that were typically Republican during the last election, like Florida and Texas.

To make matters worse, experts are already talking about a “blue wave,” referencing the color that identifies the Democrats, implying that an unpopular Trump will lead the Republicans to a decrease in popularity that’s looking increasingly likely.

According to political analysts of all kinds, this situation could land Republicans in one of the worst political disasters in their history, not only losing the Senate and strengthening Democratic control in the House, but also leading to losses in state governments and congresses.

Unpopular at the outset, despite his loyal voter base, Trump’s public image is currently being hit daily by COVID-19, the severity of which he only just barely recognized last week in a 180 degree turn of events.

In fact, the whole country is, or has been, affected by COVID-19. Some regions, such as the Northeast, appear to be recuperating, but 39 of the 50 U.S. states are registering a daily increase in cases and deaths, and Trump’s political base is among them.

At the same time, he is facing strong civil unrest after the death of George Floyd, an African American man, in May, which is currently being exacerbated by his deployment of federal police to deal with the protests in various parts of the country, especially in the city of Portland, Oregon.

Meanwhile, the United States is in an escalating geopolitical and trade war with China, at the expense of American consumers.

Biden, for his part, has become a slippery target, taking advantage of quarantine to pick and choose moments to offer opinions, criticisms or to present proposals, without entering into controversial arguments with the president.