Trump is back in the race By John Zogby
Donald Trump had a good week. He may not often look or act like a president, but the White House always does — and the White House was the star of the week.
The president and his supporters were able, at least for the week, to change the focus of the conversation to his talking points: unprecedented growth before COVID-19, more new jobs in four years than ever before, more Hispanic and black people working than ever, standing up to China, a Middle East peace deal, and so on. His most effective pitch was about prison reform, and Alice Johnson may have been the most visible and credible persona of the week.
Photo from White House
Trump aimed to reframe the discussion on race and police brutality to law and order in an effort to bring white suburban mothers, voters over 65, and others deeply concerned about violence and rage in the streets, including blacks and Hispanics.
It may not work, but initial polls after the convention show a tighter race nationally and an even closer race in several battleground states. What is most striking is that Trump's strategy is once again unconventional, seeking to divide and splinter instead of heal and unite. He is clearly back in the game.
John Zogby (@TheJohnZogby) is the founder of the Zogby Poll and Zogby companies, including John Zogby Strategies, and author of We Are Many We Are One: Neo-Tribes and Tribal Analytics in the 21st Century America.
