Let Trump win the nomination but lose the election

Inasmuch as the destiny of our country is firmly intertwined with the outcome of the US elections, we should be interested in American politics. If the Republicans get into the White House again, the US policies in the Asia-Pacific region may veer towards favoring China and Russia for their own global trade and business agenda. But if the Democrats can hold on, then the current balance of power in Asia can be assured of stability and balance.

Moreover, Democrats are more pro-Asian, pro-immigrants, pro-veterans, pro-labor, and pro-middle class. This is the party of Presidents John F. Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. They aren’t perfect world leaders; they have their character flaws and policy defects. But, in totality, when the rubber hits the road, it’s always the Democrats who are more understanding of Philippine problems. The GOP used to be a party of greatness until Donald Trump destroyed its brand. Well, he has his strengths too to be fair, but his character flaws far outweigh his merits.

Governor DeSantis of Florida, who was seen as the strongest alternative to Trump, has withdrawn after his embarrassing defeats in Iowa and, to the great dismay of mainstream Republicans, decided to bite the bullet and drink from poison cup by endorsing the man he denounced with all his might just a few weeks back. Trump, by sheer superiority in money, logistics, and organization, captured most of the 40 delegates to the Republican National Convention. DeSantis could only manage eight.

But the combative Nikki Haley (it takes a strong woman to give a highly-controversial man a run for his money) wasn’t perturbed by her poor showing in Iowa and vowed to fight Trump up to what they call the Super Tuesday, and even beyond that, all the way to the national convention, if only to give the delegates another option to Trump. The strongly anti-Trump Liz Cheney, the daughter of the famous Dick Cheney, 46th vice president of the US who served under President George Bush, urged Haley never to give up her fight even if it will end in defeat. To be able to challenge Trump is already a victory.

Assuming without admitting that Trump will ultimately dominate the Republican Convention, with all his money and organization, it doesn’t mean that he will beat Joe Biden. Biden may not be the best Democrat; he has his many weaknesses including his age. But under his watch, especially lately, the economy is on an upward trajectory. Unemployment is very low, inflation is contained. Crimes are going down and there are no major crises to weigh his administration down.

On the other hand, Trump won’t be able to campaign. Almost every day, he will be appearing in multiple courts to defend himself from more than a hundred criminal and civil charges. He will be flying back and forth from Florida courts to New York and to Georgia. His attention will be distracted, his money will be dissipated, his focus disrupted. Biden can proceed to every nook and cranny. Although he isn’t as charismatic as Kennedy or Roosevelt, he will win with his cool, calm, and less combative ways. Although Biden isn’t as effective a speaker compared to Obama or Clinton, he will be seen as a better man than Trump.

The Philippines as well as the Asia-Pacific will have better years to come if Biden remains in the White House. Trump will mean uncertainty and instability in our region and uncertainty to our economy. We should be interested in American politics. Each time Americans sneeze, we get the flu.