Gadarian Speaks to Christian Science Monitor About Trump’s Steady Rebound

January 24, 2024

Christian Science Monitor

Shana Kushner Gadarian

Political Science Department

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

Federal

Political Parties

U.S. Elections

United States

Christian Science Monitor

Shana Kushner Gadarian

Trump's resurgent hold on his party—as reflected in his performance in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, and a recent flood of high-level endorsements—can be attributed to a combination of factors. Polls suggest a stand together response from voters after his criminal indictments, and the passage of time may have softened some voters’ memories of the chaotic final months of his presidency.

“People have to make choices, and can do mental gymnastics to justify voting a particular way,” says Shana Gadarian, associate dean for research and professor of political science. “You can say, for example, that character isn’t really that important; because the other side is so bad, we must fight fire with fire,” she says.

Read more in the Christian Science Monitor article, “Since 2022 Trump has rebounded steadily. What happened?”