I have terrible news for you: I think Donald Trump is going to win this election.
The news is terrible, of course, because I have an almost unbroken record of failing to predict the outcome of close elections. I did get Bush v. Gore right, but in my experience, I usually have a bias based on my emotional attachment to the Republican Party. I tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the Red over the Blue.
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And, despite my "training" as a "political scientist," I am neither a believer in the "science" of politics nor especially confident in the ability of numbers geeks to predict human behavior accurately. The best you can hope for in fluid situations is to make directionally correct guesses, not reliable predictions. I have seen a few wizards do magic on election night when actual numbers are flowing in, but predictions long before the voting begins are generally worth little.
With all that said, I think Trump is going to win, based on a qualitative analysis of the state of play rather than any intense parsing of the data.
Donald Trump is retaining his support in a tight race and, ahead of the presidential debate, some voters say they want to know more about where Kamala Harris stands, a national poll of likely voters by The New York Times and Siena College found. https://t.co/gUUC12yUZc
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 8, 2024
Tuesday's debate could upend my analysis, but I sense that the euphoria of the Democrats and the depression of the Republicans caused by Biden's exit has mainly dissipated. Kamala Harris sprinted off the starting line and gained a ton of momentum, but it was all based on the help provided by the Establishment and especially the mainstream media. Toss in some (probably illegal in the main part) flood of campaign cash and Kamala was looking pretty good.
It was scary for a bit. Like many of you, I was shaken by how dramatically things shifted in the race.
But sprinters can't run marathons, or at least can't start out marathons by sprinting. And while this election is more a 10K race than a marathon, Kamala has mostly used up her stored energy without leaving Trump in the dust. In fact, her poll numbers are pretty weak and going in the wrong direction.
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And, unsurprisingly, Kamala's strategy of running the campaign as a cooking show instead of a presidential race isn't sufficient to propel her to a commanding lead. In fact, it is costing her votes. I am not joking about the cooking show. Here is a tweet from a Washington Post columnist traveling with Kamala:
Kamala Harris just went to Penzeys Spices and bought Creamy Peppercorn Dressing Base, Fox Point Seasoning, Trinidad Lemon-Garlic Marinade, Turkish Seasoning, and Tuscan Sunset Salt Free Italian Seasoning.
— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) September 7, 2024
Democrat enthusiasm and "double hater" relief at Biden's exit got Harris where she is, but Americans still worry about world affairs, the sputtering economy, rising prices, and immigration. Harris's campaign has announced that she is now the younger MAGA candidate totally divorced from her earlier radicalism, but anonymous press releases are no substitute for a candidate making a case for an agenda.
Harris can't get up on the debate stage and talk about collard greens in bathtubs or refer to Tim Walz's choice of Doritos over Lay's potato chips. People want to know about her leadership ability, her policy positions, and her ability to stand up to Vladimir Putin or the Ayatollahs.
Harris is by nature weak, vapid, and annoying. By the end of her campaign, only die-hard Democrats will think of "Joy" and Kamala Harris in the same sentence. I just don't see how Harris wins Pennsylvania and Georgia unless she gets a brain transplant.
Donald Trump is in better shape than he was in 2016 and 2020, and Harris is in worse shape with Hispanics and Blacks than Biden was. The only demographic in which she can say she is dramatically better off than Biden is single women--not a small thing, of course, but is that enough to counteract her decline with so many other demographics?
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I doubt it. I think she will continue to slump in the polls--not that she can fall far, given that her floor is probably 47% plus the Cheney family, David French, and Bill Kristol.
Hence my minor depression. Given how often I am wrong in my predictions, I fear the worst.
Now, on to the smiles!
BEST OF THE BABYLON BEE!
Tim Walz’s Dog Endorses Trump https://t.co/k6L7GApKal pic.twitter.com/e8ao8lQefq
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 8, 2024
Americans Unanimously Agree To Vote For Whichever Candidate Stops Sending Them Campaign Donation Text Messages https://t.co/RyfImnGlcK pic.twitter.com/f8NXSkzF7v
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
Theologians Debate Whether God Could Design IKEA Bookcase Even He Could Not Assemble https://t.co/u2jzAHJ7QA pic.twitter.com/5GxxstvedW
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
Harris Campaign Admits Tim Walz Was The Only Candidate That Answered Their Craigslist Ad https://t.co/lYLfycJLQD pic.twitter.com/o1ulYMS6FO
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
In Interest of Fairness, Chicago White Sox To Be Allowed To Use Batting Tee https://t.co/HaHU1NNIPN pic.twitter.com/TwHrdhLgl9
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
8-Day-Old Jewish Baby Excited For Cool Party They're Throwing For Him And Hey Why Are All The Women Leaving And Who Is This Guy In The Robes https://t.co/bkapAOnohT pic.twitter.com/ucwxKvbVHY
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
'Maybe We Took A Wrong Turn Somewhere,' Thinks Party Whose Candidate Just Got Endorsed By Dick Cheney And Vladimir Putin https://t.co/uSLyFxPade pic.twitter.com/5u986HScTf
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
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Kamala Quietly Asks Aides If She Should Just Try Sleeping With The Economy https://t.co/FJsFNhs6Pd pic.twitter.com/4G1Q3dsEzu
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
Family Unsure If Watching Beautiful Meteor Shower Or Just Boeing Plane https://t.co/x9z5fENbIp pic.twitter.com/fFf2jMmfCW
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
Liberal Wants To Join A Union But Realizes He'd Have To Get A Job https://t.co/NrrLNWaWx2 pic.twitter.com/5CFJxzwVAU
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
Liberal Wants To Join A Union But Realizes He'd Have To Get A Job https://t.co/NrrLNWaWx2 pic.twitter.com/5CFJxzwVAU
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
Liberals Frustrated To Discover Virtue Way Harder Than Virtue Signaling https://t.co/XYMPN6K62S pic.twitter.com/b42t0MoQAd
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 7, 2024
'Never Has America Faced A Greater Threat Than Donald Trump,' Says Guy Who Started Two Wars And Shot A Dude In The Face https://t.co/7xNBIdkIYx pic.twitter.com/Yh6DUiL87s
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 6, 2024
Kamala Responds To Criticism Over Lack Of Policies By Posting Another Truck Stop Junk Food Video https://t.co/P2NxF8cwlu pic.twitter.com/CgFv1c4dEt
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 6, 2024
Feminists Frantically Research What People Do With Babies Other Than Killing Them https://t.co/yqMxeTx9ZA pic.twitter.com/iUgR4gFOFl
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 6, 2024
Ukraine Unveils New Missile Fueled By Burning U.S. Dollars https://t.co/OdOZognGSF pic.twitter.com/NE5V92wORA
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 6, 2024
Trump Prepares For Debate Against Kamala By Going To Bar And Arguing With Drunks https://t.co/aXWC9Ohuw7 pic.twitter.com/fIC9iJU1i9
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 5, 2024
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Hamas Excited To Learn Killing Israelis Somehow Makes Biden Condemn Israel https://t.co/MHRkp4aUw3 pic.twitter.com/FAU4C1vtRf
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 5, 2024
FBI Says They Were Just About To Get The School Shooter But They Had To Take Care Of A Few Dangerous Pro-Life Protestors First https://t.co/125O7uVEQU pic.twitter.com/m45LhgCcjA
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 5, 2024
Grizzled Veteran Comes Out Of Retirement For One Last Russian Collusion Hoax https://t.co/gN6Wm5rxl4 pic.twitter.com/PUz5Myxa6k
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 5, 2024
FBI Assures Public The Next Ten Mass Shooters Are Also On Their Radar https://t.co/GPoYHiCipW pic.twitter.com/oaMt96t3lH
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 5, 2024
After Motorcade Involved In Fender Bender, Tim Walz Adds Purple Heart To Resume https://t.co/hckwMjGUNx pic.twitter.com/bZpQdne5QY
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 5, 2024
FBI Warns Of Extremist MAGA Plot To Go To A Polling Location And Vote For Preferred Candidate https://t.co/4OCqOQmg3x pic.twitter.com/TtIaiLnQw3
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 5, 2024
Tucker Carlson Guest Suggests Avengers Were The Real Villains In 'Infinity War' https://t.co/LnfaOMYNlE pic.twitter.com/ZwdYiADeIV
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 4, 2024
Amazon Says Error Caused Alexa To Say ‘If You Vote For Trump, I Will Kill You In Your Sleep’ https://t.co/PG1h082Pz0 pic.twitter.com/83z0TLBWry
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 4, 2024
Walt Disney World Updates Hall Of Presidents By Placing President Biden In Beach Chair https://t.co/kdE0AR1UOk pic.twitter.com/BQoczh6QqJ
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 3, 2024
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'Parents Should Not Brainwash Kids Into Their Religion,' Says Progressive Mom Of 3 Trans Kids https://t.co/m47d188t0S pic.twitter.com/JyWWCPCLfJ
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 3, 2024
Primary Cause Of Global Warming Found To Be Massive Dumpster Fire Burning At 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington DC https://t.co/lhEzHswaR2 pic.twitter.com/H4ndPUkTb5
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 2, 2024
After Dismissing Warnings From His Mother, Tucker Carlson's Face Is Now Stuck That Way https://t.co/GD5sEPOMiZ pic.twitter.com/rotgyYIS58
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 2, 2024
Source Says Kamala Was Promoted At McDonald's After Having Affair With Mayor McCheese https://t.co/k5ThaVb2VB pic.twitter.com/bQStM10kNI
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 2, 2024
BEST OF THE REST...
Dog invented its own fetch game..🐕🐾😍 pic.twitter.com/IgtLcTkHDM
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) September 8, 2024
According to difference studies, dogs store key sensory features about their toys and some can have really special relationships with them.
This Golden Retriever is possibly a proof.
[📹 aguyandagoldenn]pic.twitter.com/y1tHENuvaX
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) September 8, 2024
Are you filming me..🐈🐾😅 pic.twitter.com/KKTS4Rmo2f
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) September 6, 2024
Let me be conservative in peace plz pic.twitter.com/a57s1LBN8X
— Xaviaer DuRousseau (@XAVIAERD) September 4, 2024
The first one 😂💀 pic.twitter.com/x0rVblsw3F
— Posts Of Cats (@PostsOfCats) September 3, 2024
I'm convinced voids are just overcooked oranges pic.twitter.com/h47uWnw93f
— Posts Of Cats (@PostsOfCats) September 8, 2024
I don't know what I was expecting but, it was not that 😁 pic.twitter.com/aiDGC2uDec
— Posts Of Cats (@PostsOfCats) September 8, 2024
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Orange cat energy is real 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/eY0EUFEzGV
— Posts Of Cats (@PostsOfCats) September 2, 2024
I know a snack when I hear one..🐕🐾🍪😅 pic.twitter.com/9wnhGKGbeo
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) September 1, 2024
— Posts Of Cats (@PostsOfCats) September 2, 2024
AND FINALLY...
Not sure if I have posted this before, but it is worth a repeat.
This article was originally published by Hot Air. We only curate news from sources that align with the core values of our intended conservative audience. If you like the news you read here we encourage you to utilize the original sources for even more great news and opinions you can trust!
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