How Trump's Troubles Could Actually Help Him

A Reuters analysis suggests an odd problem for Hillary Clinton: overconfidence among her supporters may lead them to skip Election Day altogether. With Donald Trump dealing with GOP defections and slipping poll numbers in the wake of his hot mic scandal, the prospect of depressed Democratic turnout is a real one, writes James Oliphant. He phrases the matter this way: "Opinion polls show that many voters are backing Clinton primarily to stop Trump, the Republican nominee, from getting into the White House. If they believe he has no hope of winning, then what would their motivation be to turn up at the polls?"

The issue could be a problem for Democrats in crucial swing states, and it could haunt Clinton even if she wins the election—a small margin of victory would make her ability to govern that much harder, writes Oliphant. A post at conservative PJ Media sees "a kernel of validity" in the theory, but says it highlights a much bigger problem for Clinton: "She's not inspiring even Democrats. The media is focusing on dissension within the GOP ranks and electorate, but they completely ignore the fact that the other side isn't exactly singing in the streets over its nominee." (More Donald Trump 2016 stories.)