for the last part, what I mean is that I think the 58% of respondents are not centrists or moderates or whatever. I think they are disaffected people across the political spectrum.
I think an independent wins by being the harm reduction candidate for the greatest number of people across the board. hence, pro guns, which leftists agree with and only a small percentage of libs would rank in their top five most important issues--but would be a deal breaker for many on the right. avoid abortion, which is solidly a wedge issue across the political spectrum. pro LGBT, which is must for most people to the left of center, and isn't a deal breaker for much of the right. And so on.
now, generally, favorability is a better predictor of election outcomes than unfavorability--BUT, that wasn't the case in the last presidential election, and I think the celebrity status of this theoretical candidate would lead to high favorability as well.
I don't pay attention to celebrities or famous people so the only name that comes to mind for me is Oprah. Has she ever done or said anything controversial? And I assume that although democrats like (or love) her - they do so based on a sense that she's one of them even though she's probably been very, very careful never to be too political.
Theoretically speaking - is there anybody else like her?
Some people with crazy levels of charisma can have surprising success but I have no idea at all what right-wingers think of her. And Americans now treat their politics as though they are rabid cultists. I wonder what the Cult of the GOP truly thinks of her. Not what they would say to a pollster but what they say to each other when they commiserate.
for the last part, what I mean is that I think the 58% of respondents are not centrists or moderates or whatever. I think they are disaffected people across the political spectrum.
I think an independent wins by being the harm reduction candidate for the greatest number of people across the board. hence, pro guns, which leftists agree with and only a small percentage of libs would rank in their top five most important issues--but would be a deal breaker for many on the right. avoid abortion, which is solidly a wedge issue across the political spectrum. pro LGBT, which is must for most people to the left of center, and isn't a deal breaker for much of the right. And so on.
now, generally, favorability is a better predictor of election outcomes than unfavorability--BUT, that wasn't the case in the last presidential election, and I think the celebrity status of this theoretical candidate would lead to high favorability as well.
I don't pay attention to celebrities or famous people so the only name that comes to mind for me is Oprah. Has she ever done or said anything controversial? And I assume that although democrats like (or love) her - they do so based on a sense that she's one of them even though she's probably been very, very careful never to be too political.
Theoretically speaking - is there anybody else like her?
I think America is too sexist and racist for her to win on an independent ticket. she could maybe win as a Democrat though.
Some people with crazy levels of charisma can have surprising success but I have no idea at all what right-wingers think of her. And Americans now treat their politics as though they are rabid cultists. I wonder what the Cult of the GOP truly thinks of her. Not what they would say to a pollster but what they say to each other when they commiserate.