Bill Clinton, the former U.S. President, was not surprised by Donald Trump’s resounding win in the 2024 presidential election. He had forecasted the unified voting trends in swing states that were instrumental in deciding the election outcome.
Over the weekend, in a conversation with Jonathan Capehart on MSNBC, Clinton recognized the considerable shift in U.S. politics. He highlighted that Trump’s triumph encompassed both the popular vote and the Electoral College, distinguishing it from Trump’s 2016 win when he trailed Hillary Clinton in the popular vote.
The election results underscored Trump’s victory in all seven swing states: Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Nevada. With a total of 93 electoral votes, these states were pivotal in determining the presidency.
Statistical data suggests that Vice President Kamala Harris grappled with significant hurdles during her campaign, falling short of President Biden’s 2020 vote count by about seven million votes. The drop in Democratic turnout, credited to issues including inflation and party dissatisfaction, significantly influenced the election results.
Clinton discussed the impact of wider societal factors on the election, stating, “There’s been a lot of change for people to digest, a lot of economic adversity and upheaval, a lot of political upheaval, a lot of social developments.” He also noted that some voters were “just exhausted by uncertainty and tired of carrying it around,” suggesting that such feelings “always helps the right.”
Clinton also drew comparisons between the 2024 election and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Recently, Hillary Clinton mentioned that Vice President Harris seemed to have better chances initially, but lamented the absence of FBI Director James Comey “waiting in the wings to kneecap her.” Bill Clinton implied that Comey’s probe into Hillary Clinton’s private email server during her tenure as secretary of state potentially swayed the 2016 election.
Trump’s victory marked a significant political resurgence. Despite numerous legal hurdles, including two presidential impeachments and various criminal charges, he was able to broaden his electoral support base. His campaign attracted a diverse coalition, winning increased backing from Latino and African American men, along with younger voters.
The Harris campaign faced several major challenges, including differentiating her policies from those of President Biden and mobilizing key voter demographics effectively. Her campaign, which prioritized abortion rights, could not generate enough voter turnout to counter Trump’s comprehensive coalition building.