@mastodonmigration Unfortunately, presidential elections are always determined by independents in the middle, who are not inclined to vote for what they view as candidates at the far end. For example, polls showed that the entire complex of issues around sexuality and sports was an enormous turn-off for the middle, and pushed them enough toward Trump to make the difference. That's just the unfortunate reality. Middle of the road, safe candidates usually win, except in extraordinary circumstances (e.g., Biden's obvious denial of a steep mental decline). Remember, Trump won't be running again (no matter what he says).

@mastodonmigration This one has been 100%. The presidential elections history is littered with examples. You probably know them as well as I do.

@mastodonmigration I think the key aspect is that overwhelmingly the factor driving Trump's polling decline is the economy. Everything else, even health care (which of course relates) is much further down. Whoever is seen as most likely to keep the price of gasoline down is most likely to win.

@lauren @mastodonmigration But does anyone actually want to be part of a country that insists on buying giant SUVs for its daily transportation needs and then prioritizes cheap gas for them over human rights or maintaining a livable planet?

@PedestrianError @mastodonmigration STEP ONE: Prevent a fascist dictatorship from cancelling elections and taking over the country. STEP TWO: Everything else.

@lauren @mastodonmigration The centrists have controlled the Democratic party and worked tirelessly to prevent progressives from gaining a foothold at the expense of combatting the far right since Bill Clinton's rise in 1992. That party failed to prevent fascist dictatorship and can't be trusted to pull us back from it now with the same failed tactics. That's exactly why more chasing mythical soccer moms who can't decide if they're fascist or not can't be the strategy.