John Avlon on whether terror attacks can help Trump: “Though he’s a uniquely unqualified candidate, I’ve been concerned about an outside X-Factor event suddenly changing the emotional calculus of the electorate in ways that we would later regret. This could be a sudden economic collapse or a cyber October-surprise. But terrorism has always seemed the prime known-unknown.”
“After all, terrorism is now a depressingly regular feature of American life. While no attacks have rivaled 9/11, we saw at least 45 thwarted terror plots in the first ten years after the destruction of the World Trade Center and in the last year alone suffered horrific losses in the San Bernardino and Orlando slaughters. But we have no template for the impact of an attack just before an American election.”
If all he has to offer is fear and overreaction, then no, it will not help him. I actually have been pleasantly surprised at how nonplussed the public has been over the weekend's bombings. Not that they are minimizing the bombing and the knifing attacks, but that the public maybe putting it into perspective while at the same time wanting competent government investigation. Perspective and competence are not things you associate with Trump.
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