Court rules on payment to cover up scandal - Donald Trump's trial dishonor may impede his chances of winning the election slightly.
The verdict in the hush money case against Donald Trump has once more demonstrated that there's little room for subtlety in American culture wars. There are those who assume the entire process is pointless. "Will voters still opt for Trump in November due to this invented case?", inquired the financial newspaper 'Wall Street Journal.'
Contrastingly, there were celebrations. "Boom!" tweeted Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, treating NY's conviction as the start of Trump's downfall. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden remained composed, asserting, "Regardless of whether he's a convicted criminal or not, the only way to oust Trump from the Oval Office is through voting in the elections."
Can Ny Judge Remove Trump from the White House Run?
Ever since Trump was indicted, his opponents hoped a court ruling would eliminate him from the race for the presidency. However, only one lawsuit - regarding the cover-up of a hush-money payment - reached trial thus far. The other three, if they survive a Supreme Court review, won't start until after the election on November 5th.
Moreover, the dividing lines have already been drawn. An NPR poll that day revealed two-thirds of respondents had already decided - even in the instance of an acquittal. Trump once confidently stated, "I could kill someone on Fifth Avenue and still have no voters."
The Right Becomes Radicalized
The lawsuits against Trump are viewed by his die-hard fans - the MAGA crew - as a witch-hunt orchestrated by the White House to derail his White House pursuit. Ignoring proof, they believe in a "Deep State," a clandestine power operating within the US, manipulating court proceedings, and controlling elections.
Post New York verdict, further radicalization looms. The conspiracy-laden far-right platforms like "Gateway Pundit" or Trump's "TruthSocial" are rife with veiled calls for murder and revolt: "Someone in New York without anything to lose should deal with Judge Merchan." Or: "A million armed men need to march on Washington, hanging them is the only solution."
The Alt-right Are Outliers
Despite how ominous these radical sentiments may seem, they form a tiny minority on the right side of the States. However, far-fetched conspiracy theories have found their way into the Republican mainstream. Two-thirds of them now believe Trump "stole" the 2020 election with Biden occupying the Oval Office illegitimately. These voters already had their minds made up before the judgement.
In essence, the electoral trench lines have been in place for years: one half will reelect Joe Biden, while the other remains committed to Trump. Trump's poll lead is around 17-20% of those who may not vote for him if he's found guilty. This willingness to reconsider their vote dissipates the less people know and the less they earn. Where people live could be influential.
In Trump's home state of New York, Republicans have as little hope of winning the majority as Democrats have in the conservative state of Texas. The US electoral system determines a president through a handful of states, and only a few key electoral districts within these states matter. In 2020, it was a minority of less than 50,000 voters in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Georgia who made Biden president.
These six states - including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Nevada - could weigh heavy in this year's vote. Trump is currently ahead in every state but Wisconsin, allowing him to absorb some disgruntled voters due to the trial. For now, though.
