Democrats need not worry in 2020 about convincing Americans that Trump is a rotten human being. “Just 28% of Americans say he is even-tempered," the Pew survey says, "while 69% say that description does not apply. A somewhat larger share (36%) says Trump is trustworthy; a majority (61%) says Trump is not trustworthy.”

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And Trump’s campaign to exonerate himself isn’t going well. “The survey — which, again, was largely completed before [Attorney General William P.] Barr’s report on the [special counsel] investigation — finds that 64% of Americans say that Trump definitely (33%) or probably (31%) has done something illegal while in office or when he was running for president. Only half as many (32%) say he definitely or probably has not done things that are illegal. An even larger share (72%) thinks Trump definitely or probably has done something unethical — with 46% saying he has definitely done this.”

Even Republicans don’t buy Trump’s self-administered clean bill of ethical health (“a substantial minority of Republicans and Republican leaners (45%) say it is at least probable Trump has done something unethical, though just 14% say he ‘definitely’ has done this”). When it comes to impulsiveness, 61 percent say he is too impulsive, while “[a] third of the public says Trump’s temperament is about right when making important decisions; only 4% say he is too cautious when making decisions."

Trump remains quite unpopular (55 percent disapprove/40 percent approve), and his standing among women is atrocious (63 percent disapprove/32 approve), as it is with African Americans (84/11). Evangelicals are thrilled with his performance (75 percent approve); he’s under 50 percent with other religious groups.

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As for democracy, “Overall, 59% of adults say Trump has not too much (26%) or no respect at all (32%) for the county’s democratic institutions. A smaller share (40%) says he has either a great deal (16%) or a fair amount (24%) of respect for these institutions.”

All of this suggests that Democrats follow a few basic guidelines.

First, their argument shouldn’t merely be that Trump is immoral or anti-democratic. Sadly, that isn’t a deal-breaker for many people. They’ll have much better luck arguing that he has hurt Americans (whether out of malice or incompetence), lacks the ability to bring us together and/or is financially corrupt (e.g. doesn’t pay taxes, enriches himself).

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Second, given that most Americans think he is aligned with racists, lacks the proper temperament and is untrustworthy, the greatest contrast may come from a candidate seen as inclusive, calm, steady and honest. A return to normal — or at least less aberrant — government may have some appeal.

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