First, as of close of business November 22, it appears,
contrary to earlier reports, that 2016 turnout (134,041,442) actually exceeded
the 2012 turnout (129,085,410). That gap will be larger when the remaining
votes are tabulated.
Second, Clinton, as of November 22, has received 64,500,489 votes (48.1%) to Trump's 62,371,681 (46.5%) -- a plurality of more than two million votes. In
2012, Obama received 65,915,795 (51.1%) to Romney's 60,933,504 (47.2%). We must remember that the Democratic Party won the popular vote in the last three, and in four of the last five, presidential elections.
Third, in the seven swing
states won by Trump, he received a majority of the votes in only two:
Iowa (51.%) and Ohio (51.8%). And all this with a Democratic candidate who
carried some significant baggage and did not carry it very well.
The electoral future can
be bright. In seeking to ameliorate -- or at least call to the nation's attention -- the damage that Trump and the Congressional
Republicans will cause, activists most focus principally on strategies
for building on this American majority so that the Electoral College and the
gerrymandered Congress can return to their normal states of reflecting majority
will. This must include a coherent message that will convince the 5.4% of the electorate who could not abide Trump, but could not accept Clinton, that the 2020 candidate is worthy of full trust. And this coherent message should not back away from the Democratic Party Platform.
Most importantly, the Democratic message must include a forceful plan, forcefully presented, to help those left behind by technological change -- the very voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa who voted for Obama, but did not trust Clinton.
Most importantly, the Democratic message must include a forceful plan, forcefully presented, to help those left behind by technological change -- the very voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa who voted for Obama, but did not trust Clinton.
Sources:
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