Yes. Easily.

But whichever it is, the fear and loathing they convey inevitably filters down to their supporters

Hol' up! No. Biden and the democrats have been awfully timid about calling Trump a fascist coward while his supporters and others on the left have been saying it before Trump left office. Only now is Biden trying to characterize this election as an existential crisis for American democracy. Leftists, on the other hand, are relieved that Biden is doing at all, and sincerely wish he and his sorry party would've started way earlier.

Republican laymen are led by their noses. Democratic laymen can barely push their leaders.

Yes

I sure as hell do