Landslide? Trump Won With Only 1.6% Margin Among Voters

[Revoltingest]

The "landslide" was only in the Electoral College...312 to 226.

The Trump landslide that wasn't

Since the election, Trump's percentage of the national vote has been dropping. Turns out his victory was slim, not a landslide.

www.latimes.com

 

[Alien826]

Yes. It shows just how divided the country and what a huge difference (to how the country is run) a relatively small percentage swing in votes can make. And it's certainly not a "mandate" for all the MAGA-style changes that will now be attempted.

The problem is, and it's not new by any means, that whatever is done roughly half the country will disagree. It's easy to say "compromise" but our system is not really set up to facilitate that, though individual politicians can try of course.

It may be that this divide is the major problem our country faces. And I say that in the face of many other contenders for the "worst problem" award. If we could agree on what the facts are and then discuss what should be done, we would be a long way down the road to addressing these other matters. It puzzles me, frankly. To pick an example, everyone, even billionaires, will be affected by climate change, so logically everyone should be concerned with averting it.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

The "landslide" was only in the Electoral College...312 to 226.

The Trump landslide that wasn't

Since the election, Trump's percentage of the national vote has been dropping. Turns out his victory was slim, not a landslide.

www.latimes.com

That's what he also said back in 2016, followed by a flase claim of the largest inauguration crowd ever.
But he knows that for his folllowers his word is more sacred than Jehovah and more official and truthful than all others.

 

[Revoltingest]

That's what he also said back in 2016, followed by a flase claim of the largest inauguration crowd ever.
But he knows that for his folllowers his word is more sacred than Jehovah and more official and truthful than all others.

So it goes with cults.
And this is a big one indeed.

 

[Watchmen]

The "landslide" was only in the Electoral College...312 to 226.

The Trump landslide that wasn't

Since the election, Trump's percentage of the national vote has been dropping. Turns out his victory was slim, not a landslide.

www.latimes.com

So it was still a landslide….
And it’s the first time in three tries that Trump won the popular vote. Let’s not downplay the significance of the total Dem collapse that would permit a crazy person like Trump to win at all.

 

[Revoltingest]

So it was still a landslide….

In one sense, yes.
But not as a reflection of the country's voters, where the margin was slim.

And it’s the first time in three tries that Trump won the popular vote. Let’s not downplay the significance of the total Dem collapse that would permit a crazy person like Trump to win at all.

True dat.
Both parties have been running low
quality candidates for awhile now.
And remember....Trump was so bad
that even Hillary got more votes.
And she was so bad that Trump won.
Ugh.

 

[Wirey]

So it was still a landslide….
And it’s the first time in three tries that Trump won the popular vote. Let’s not downplay the significance of the total Dem collapse that would permit a crazy person like Trump to win at all.

A hard truth.

 

[Watchmen]

Yes. It shows just how divided the country and what a huge difference (to how the country is run) a relatively small percentage swing in votes can make. And it's certainly not a "mandate" for all the MAGA-style changes that will now be attempted.

The country is certainly divided, but unfortunately I think you’re wrong about the mandate. Trump’s electoral victory was far larger than anyone saw coming. Every single swing state went to him. He won the popular vote. I get that it was close, but crazy disgusting Trump won that vote for the first time in three tries. The GOP control the House and Senate. Overall, it certainly was a “red wave” on election night and I think the GOP earned the mandate. I’m confident Dems would be claiming they have a mandate were the situation reversed (a big Harris win with Dems gaining control of all of Congress).

 

[Watchmen]

In one sense, yes.
But not as a reflection of the country's voters, where the margin was slim.

True dat.
Both parties have been running low
quality candidates for awhile now.
And remember....Trump was so bad
that even Hillary got more votes.
And she was so bad that Trump won.
Ugh.

And that’s what puzzles me so much. Two years ago, everyone I knew was saying they didn’t want Biden or Trump. Biden eventually stepped down, but now we’re stuck with Trump. Why do the parties keep running poor candidates? Where’s the kickass, smart, caring, energetic, savvy, intelligent great leader? Maybe those people know better than to become politicians, but I gotta believe both parties have far better than the candidates they keep throwing out there.

 

[Revoltingest]

And that’s what puzzles me so much. Two years ago, everyone I knew was saying they didn’t want Biden or Trump. Biden eventually stepped down, but now we’re stuck with Trump. Why do the parties keep running poor candidates? Where’s the kickass, smart, caring, energetic, savvy, intelligent great leader? Maybe those people know better than to become politicians, but I gotta believe both parties have far better than the candidates they keep throwing out there.

Intelligent, erudite, honest, candid people fare poorly in
primaries & elections. Liars, panderers, & simple minded
candidates provide the winning sound bite messages.
It's one of the few professions where the selection process
favors the least qualified applicants.

BTW, I know many who love &/or respect Trump.
The have all along since 2016.

 

[Foxfyre]

The "landslide" was only in the Electoral College...312 to 226.

The Trump landslide that wasn't

Since the election, Trump's percentage of the national vote has been dropping. Turns out his victory was slim, not a landslide.

www.latimes.com

Which is why the Founders with great wisdom gave us the electoral college to ensure all Americans would have at least some say in presidential elections rather than just a very few very large population centers having all the say. Los Angeles County alone has more population than the total population of any of 40 U.S. states. And because bright blue California is still counting votes weeks after the election, it is a safe bet most of those votes will be Democrat votes. That does not change the fact the most of the states are red.

 

[Alien826]

The country is certainly divided, but unfortunately I think you’re wrong about the mandate. Trump’s electoral victory was far larger than anyone saw coming. Every single swing state went to him. He won the popular vote. I get that it was close, but crazy disgusting Trump won that vote for the first time in three tries. The GOP control the House and Senate. Overall, it certainly was a “red wave” on election night and I think the GOP earned the mandate. I’m confident Dems would be claiming they have a mandate were the situation reversed (a big Harris win with Dems gaining control of all of Congress).

It probably depends on what definition of "mandate" you choose. If it's simply "winning the election" then I guess any government has a mandate. The OP of this thread points out that the election was won by a margin of 1.6% of the electorate (I don't think you can reasonably use the Electoral College result, that swings one way or the other based on tiny majorities). And the senate and House are similarly closely split.

My definition would be more "what did the majority of voters want"? And that was split so closely that it's difficult to claim a mandate for anyone. And yes, if the situation was reversed the Dems would be claiming a mandate too, and would also be wrong.

Once both parties start trying to serve the whole electorate instead of just their own supporters we may be able to talk about mandates. Maybe.

 

[Revoltingest]

Which is why the Founders with great wisdom gave us the electoral college to ensure all Americans would have at least some say in presidential elections rather than just a very few very large population centers having all the say. Los Angeles County alone has more population than the total population of any of 40 U.S. states. And because bright blue California is still counting votes weeks after the election, it is a safe bet most of those votes will be Democrat votes. That does not change the fact the most of the states are red.

View attachment 100105

The founders never anticipated what happened in 2020.
Trump had Magas falsely pose as electors in 7 (as I recall)
states to cast bogus votes for him instead of Biden.
Many were in MI, my state.
So their wisdom worked in their day, but in our age, the
EC makes results dangerously vulnerable to corruption.

 

[Alien826]

Which is why the Founders with great wisdom gave us the electoral college to ensure all Americans would have at least some say in presidential elections rather than just a very few very large population centers having all the say. Los Angeles County alone has more population than the total population of any of 40 U.S. states. And because bright blue California is still counting votes weeks after the election, it is a safe bet most of those votes will be Democrat votes. That does not change the fact the most of the states are red.

View attachment 100105

But states don't vote, people vote.

To say the Electoral College gives all Americans (people, not states!) some say in who will be President ignores the fact that the election was decided by seven "swing" states, and "blue" voters in safe "red" states effectively had no say at all (and vice versa of course).

This is the only political office in the country that is decided this way. House seats are voted for by all the inhabitants of a given district. Senate seats by all the inhabitants of a state. Do you see a pattern here? The President (supposedly) represents all the people of the country, so logically, he/she should be voted on by ..... fill in the gap.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

According to Reuters, Trump actually only had 49.9 percent of the popular vote...which means 50.1 percent preferred someone other than Trump...

US presidential election results​

• president
• senate
• house
• governor
• State results
  

A bar chart showing the distribution of electoral votes for the presidential race. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. Kamala Harris has 226 electoral votes and 48.3% percent of the popular vote. Donald Trump has 312 electoral votes and 49.9% percent of the popular vote.;

Harris
74,328,099 votes (48.3%)
Trump
76,863,774 votes (49.9%)

Harris + Trump = 98.2 percent