MID-MICHIGAN (WNEM) – Former President Donald Trump is now president-elect Donald Trump after his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
TV5 spoke to Andrea LaFontaine, a political science professor at Central Michigan University, to get her thoughts on how Trump was able to get voters to choose him as our next president and in a convincing fashion.
She said that she was a little bit surprised to see Trump win.
“He performed better in some areas than he did in 2016, when originally won. I think, and this sounds very bizarre to say, but I think our GOP candidate was maybe the more stable option throughout this election cycle,” she said.
Trump ran on the economy, and LaFontaine thinks that paid dividends for him.
“I do think the economy was a big driving issue. Trump could speak to what the economy was like during his term, so I think he had that going for him in that regard. They say people vote their pocketbook. At the end of the day, yes, these social issues are super important as well, and they matter to a lot of voters. But at the end of the day, being able to afford groceries and feed your family is probably the more pressing issue at the time,” she said.
LaFontaine said Harris had a difficult time defining herself to the voters, as well as establishing herself as her own candidate, with her own policies, instead of an extension of President Joe Biden.
She also said Trump had a unique style to connect with voters.
“I think he really, really resonated with working-class voters of all races. He kind of speaks the stream of consciousness, and I think people appreciate that. Like do we always think, ‘Should he say that?’ No, most normal people have a filter, and know how to be professional in those settings. But the way that people describe him as he just says it like it is, I do think that resonates,” LaFontaine said.
With Trump set to begin his second term as president in January, LaFontaine hopes Trump remembers that his success is our success.
“Even though half of the nation did not vote for you, it is still your job as their president to represent them, and represent the nation. I’m hopeful that he can do a little bit of reflecting, set his agenda, come out strong, maybe things will feel a little less chaotic on the national front, but you never know,” LaFontaine said.
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