Insight: Strategies for Securing the Presidency

Julian Zelizer, a CNN political analyst and professor at Princeton University, is the author of numerous books, including the best-seller "Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Lies and Legends About Our Past." You can follow him on Twitter @julianzelizer. The opinions shared in this commentary are his own.

Despite many Democrats viewing former President Donald Trump as chaotic and impulsive, it's important to recognize that his campaign team has developed a clear strategy for leveraging various institutions to their advantage. They have outlined a comprehensive plan involving electoral, media, legal, legislative, and third-party interventions that could potentially lead to success.

Julian Zelizer

Julian Zelizer

Larry Levanti

In 2020, the focus was on challenging the Electoral College, but now Trump is looking ahead to 2024 and trying to manipulate the rules in his favor. For instance, in Nebraska, Trump's supporters are pushing for a change in state rules to adopt a winner-take-all system. Unlike most states, Nebraska currently distributes electoral votes proportionally based on the winner of each congressional district and the statewide tally.

A change in the rules is necessary to prevent a repeat of what happened in 2020. Back then, President Joe Biden received an electoral vote from one congressional district, while Trump got the other four. Trump is now aiming to secure all the votes, understanding the significance of each one. These strategies are an extension of how Trump's campaign had previously worked to alter primary rules in his favor.

This court sketch shows former President Donald Trump in court with his lawyers and US District Court for the Southern District of Florida Aileen Cannon, upper right, during a hearing on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

This court sketch depicts former President Donald Trump appearing in court with his legal team. Also present is US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon from the Southern District of Florida, shown in the upper right corner. The hearing took place on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

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Trump is taking advantage of the 24-hour cable news and social media platforms. Similar to 2016, his rallies are getting free airtime, and just like in 2020, he is using social media to send out explosive messages that dominate the news cycle. Despite facing four major indictments and several civil lawsuits, Trump, a historic presidential candidate, sees these challenges as opportunities. (Trump maintains his innocence in these cases.)

Despite gag orders, Trump continues to use images from trials and make statements to portray himself as a victim of the establishment. He realizes that the media coverage of his legal issues keeps the spotlight on him rather than on Biden. In his view, any publicity, even negative, is beneficial and keeps him in the limelight.

And that public attention will continue for a while. Trump's legal team has been successful in delaying and obstructing the trials, with the trial in New York on Monday being seen as the least likely to harm him politically. The other trials are not expected to take place anytime soon, and it is increasingly likely that they will be postponed until after the election.

Former US President Donald Trump attends a hearing to determine the date of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on March 25, 2024. Trump faces twin legal crises today in New York, where he could see the possible seizure of his storied properties over a massive fine as he separately fights to delay a criminal trial even further. (Photo by JUSTIN LANE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Former US President Donald Trump is currently facing legal issues in New York. He recently attended a hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court on March 25, 2024, to determine the trial date for allegations of covering up hush money payments related to extramarital affairs. In addition to this, Trump is also dealing with the possibility of his properties being seized due to a substantial fine. At the same time, he is trying to delay a separate criminal trial. (Photo by JUSTIN LANE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

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Capitol Hill is where President Trump holds a strong influence over House Republicans. The majority of the GOP supports his views and leadership, including a new generation of MAGA Republicans like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who are inspired by his presidency. They work to obstruct any legislation that could harm his campaign.

When a bipartisan group of senators proposed a right-of-center immigration and foreign aid bill, Trump urged his House supporters to prevent its passage. He wanted to use the immigration issue to attack Biden. Now, Greene and other House Republicans are trying to block Speaker Mike Johnson from providing aid to Ukraine.

Trump has also rallied his MAGA supporters to oppose a bill reauthorizing FISA, a program established in 1978 to regulate intelligence surveillance by requiring court approval. Trump alleges that the program was misused to spy on his campaign and views it as a symbol of the "deep state."

Additionally, there are third-party candidates to consider. Trump believes that third-party challenges will have a greater impact on Biden in battleground states. His allies are said to be working to support third-party candidates in ways that appeal to Democrats - such as promoting Robert Kennedy Jr. as a proponent for choice and highlighting Jill Stein's environmental track record in areas where activists feel the administration has fallen short on promises.

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Join us on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated with the latest news and updates. According to The New York Times, Kennedy’s most generous single donor to his super PAC is Timothy Mellon — a billionaire who is a key ally of MAGA, Inc. If you're a Trump supporter, there are opportunities to assist independent candidate and progressive academic Cornel West in parts of the electorate where progressive frustration with the administration’s support for the Israeli government could put votes up for grabs.

There are more strategic decisions on the horizon. So far, we have observed a well-thought-out plan that leverages the Electoral College, the media, the courts, Congress, and third parties to benefit his candidacy. This strategy has consistently kept Biden on the defensive. With the fluctuations in inflation and global events, Democrats should acknowledge that these key elements of his campaign approach might secure him a second term.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the strategic and multifaceted approach that former President Donald Trump's campaign is employing to potentially secure a second term. By leveraging institutions such as the Electoral College, media platforms, legal proceedings, Congress, and third-party candidates, Trump's team is aiming to create a favorable environment for his candidacy. This strategy is designed to keep current President Biden on the defensive and capitalize on any potential weaknesses in his administration.

The article raises concerns about the potential impact of these tactics on the integrity of the electoral process and the ability of the Biden administration to effectively govern. It emphasizes the need for Democrats to recognize the significance of Trump's campaign approach and develop countermeasures to mitigate its effects. By understanding the complexities of Trump's strategy, Democrats can better prepare for the challenges ahead and ensure that the upcoming election is fair and transparent.