{"id":2364306,"date":"2024-11-05T10:07:02","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T15:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/better-off-how-the-2024-election-could-redefine-2020-too-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-11-05T10:08:37","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T15:08:37","slug":"better-off-how-the-2024-election-could-redefine-2020-too-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/better-off-how-the-2024-election-could-redefine-2020-too-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Better off? How the 2024 election could redefine 2020, too &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbetter-off-how-the-2024-election-could-redefine-2020-too-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2364306&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article examines the \u200cpotential implications of\u2064 the 2024 presidential election \u200bfor perceptions of the previous election in 2020, particularly contrasting Donald Trump&#8217;s and Kamala \u200dHarris&#8217;s campaign narratives. \u200bDrawing a parallel to Ronald Reagan&#8217;s campaign question in 1980 about whether voters are better off than they\u2064 were four \u200cyears \u2062prior, \u200bTrump leverages this sentiment to critique Biden&#8217;s \u200badministration \u2064by suggesting that he can fix the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-celebrates-anniversary-of-toxic-burn-pits-legislation-in-utah-speech\/\" title=\"Biden marks toxic burn pits legislation anniversary in Utah speech.\">issues\u2062 faced<\/a> during Biden&#8217;s term. <\/p>\n<p>The piece notes that while Trump faced significant challenges \u2063during his presidency, including the COVID-19 \u2064pandemic, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/actress-sarah-paulson-talks-finding-the-humanity-in-clinton-whistleblower-linda-tripp\/\" title=\"Actress Sarah Paulson Talks \u2018Finding The Humanity\u2019 In Clinton Whistleblower Linda Tripp\">current political landscape<\/a> may\u2064 favor him as many voters reflect more favorably \u200bon his pre-pandemic\u200d governance. \u200cConversely, Harris aims to portray\u200c her administration as one that has repaired the damage caused by Trump&#8217;s turbulent tenure,\u200b highlighting their successes against the backdrop\u200d of the chaos associated with the 2020 protests\u200c and \u200bthe COVID-19 crisis.<\/p>\n<p>The article emphasizes that the \u2062outcomes of the upcoming \u200delection could redefine voters&#8217; memories of\u200d 2020. A win for\u2064 Trump may \u2062validate his leadership style \u200band establish \u200ca \u2064stronger populist trend in \u2064the GOP, while a \u2064victory for Harris could\u200c mark \u200dTrump&#8217;s political downfall and repurpose \u200dthe narrative of the 2020 election \u200cas an unusual setback. As Election Day approaches, \u200dnational polls indicate a competitive race, making the stakes particularly high for both candidates.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Better off? How the 2024 election could redefine 2020, too<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1869091\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ronald-reagan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ronald Reagan<\/a> in 1980, former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a> often asks a question on the campaign trail: &ldquo;Are you better off than you were four years ago?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Unlike Reagan 44 years ago, Trump is posing this as someone who has already served a term in the White House. It fits in with another of his campaign slogans: President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Joe Biden<\/a> and Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Kamala Harris<\/a> broke it, Trump will fix it.<\/p>\n<p>The line drives <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democrats<\/a> crazy. Exactly four years ago, the country was suffering through a pandemic. Trump&rsquo;s management of COVID-19 and the economic impact of various <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">virus mitigation efforts cost<\/a> him a second consecutive term, but now he is back and possibly on the cusp of returning to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oval-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Oval Office<\/a> for four more years.<\/p>\n<p>Elections are about the future, not the past. But whether Trump or Harris wins will affect how voters remember 2020 years from now. The chaotic summer of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/george-floyd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">George Floyd<\/a> protests, violent crime, and COVID-19 lockdowns are increasingly associated with the Left, even if Trump was president at the time. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-most-conservative-sport-5-ufc-stars-who-dont-hide-their-right-wing-opinions\/\" title=\"\u2018The Most Conservative Sport\u2019: 5 UFC Stars Who Don\u2019t Hide Their Right-Wing Opinions\">pre-pandemic economy<\/a> and relative international calm are associated with Trump.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3202355\/paths-victory-harris-trump-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>PATHS TO VICTORY FOR HARRIS AND TRUMP IN 2024<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If this is how a plurality of voters feel on Election Day, it could be the difference-maker. Trump&rsquo;s retrospective job approval ratings in many polls are higher than they were for most or all of his four years in office. They are also higher than Biden&rsquo;s right now and much higher than the percentage saying the country is moving in the right direction.<\/p>\n<p>For most of Trump&rsquo;s term, the economy was growing and unemployment was low, and so was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/inflation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">inflation<\/a>. There were no wars in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ukraine<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Gaza<\/a>. There was no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/border-crisis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">border crisis<\/a>. It is difficult for Democrats to run against Trump presiding over high federal spending, school and business closures, and other policies related to the pandemic because they were more supportive of them than he was.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) tried to run to the right of Trump on the pandemic response in the Republican primaries. DeSantis&rsquo;s rejection of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/anthony-fauci\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Anthony Fauci <\/a>approach to COVID is a big part of how he became such an important national figure. But GOP primary voters had largely moved on by 2024.<\/p>\n<p>A Trump win this year would also make the 2020 election results seem like an anomalous event, a speed bump on the road to a more populist GOP. If Harris beats Trump, he will be a twice-defeated presidential candidate whose defeat of a flawed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hillary-clinton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Hillary Clinton <\/a>will look flukey and whose remake of the party will be sharply contested in the 2026 and 2028 elections.<\/p>\n<p>The story that Harris wants to tell is that she and Biden took office amid the wreckage of Trump&rsquo;s tumultuous first term and cleaned up the former president&rsquo;s mess. Democrats had hoped that message would be even easier to send in the aftermath of Jan. 6, a second impeachment, several indictments, and a New York conviction on 34 felony counts.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Trump and Harris enter Election Day tied in the national <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/elections\/president\/2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>RealClearPolitics <\/em>polling average<\/a>. The former president is given slightly better than even odds in the Electoral College. And it took Harris replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee to keep Trump from having a bigger advantage.&nbsp;Trump was clearly winning his rematch with Biden.<\/p>\n<p>It is possible that Trump has stepped on the nostalgia with his wild Madison Square Garden rally and other last-minute reminders of the excesses many voters find offensive. Harris has leaned heavily on presenting Trump as unstable, unhinged, and dictatorial in the final weeks of the campaign.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats would still like the election to be a referendum on Trump, while Republicans would prefer voters render their verdict on Biden and Harris. A Biden-Harris versus Trump binary choice is not as clear-cut a positive for Democrats as it seemed to be even in the 2022 midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>For the first time since former President Grover Cleveland won his rematch with then-President Benjamin Harrison in 1892, the general election largely hinges on a comparison of two administrations&rsquo; records. Trump is looking to become the first president since Cleveland and only the second in history to serve nonconsecutive terms. Harris would make history as the first woman president, an achievement Trump denied Clinton in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>But an election about the next four years will go a long way to defining the last eight as well.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1869091\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1869091\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The White House. This aligns with his campaign message that President Biden and Vice President Harris caused issues that he can resolve<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2659,"featured_media":2364307,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Donald-Trump-election-dds6.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32431,33017,32076],"class_list":["post-2364306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2024-election","tag-political-analysis","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Donald-Trump-election-dds6.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2364306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2364306"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2364306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2364310,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2364306\/revisions\/2364310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2364307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2364306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2364306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2364306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}