Julian Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, and author, with Kevin Kruse, of the new book"Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974." Follow him on Twitter at @julianzelizer. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN.
With an economy as strong as the one that the nation currently enjoys -- 3.2% growth in this year's first quarter -- President Donald Trump should be feeling pretty good about his prospects for re-election. In post-WWII history, the only presidents who have failed to win re-election struggled with a tough economy , or decided not to run .
So, why are 20 Democratic candidates running to unseat President Trump? With candidates ranging from formerly little known figures such as Mayor Pete Buttigieg to seasoned politicians like Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden, many Democrats think that they have a real shot at taking back the White House.
Opinion We hope it's not the stupid Democrats. DemocratsAreDestroyingAmerica
Opinion When everyone of TheDemocrats is crying about raising taxes and giving away more free stuff. We’ve seen what happened under BarackObama when that happens. Vote for realDonaldTrump for POTUS !!!
Opinion The US economie is doing very well. The democrates are fighting to see who would be the best socialists and tax everyone to death since, the Green New Deal would cost trillions and someone has to pay for it and typically its not the 1% but the middle class that pays.
Opinion Wonderful News. Only one can win.
Opinion CNN & their Princeton Professor state Ford was seeking 're-election'. IDIOTS.
Opinion With 6 months to go in the 2016 election, CNN and other polls had HillaryClinton winning by a substantial margin. So as we can all see, polls about potus approval rating mean jack squat. It is the economy, stupid. Any of these libtard tools get elected and we’re all toast.
Opinion They can hope all they want, but lying about how good the economy is doing won't fly.
Opinion Democrats would have gone the opposite direction in every deal Trump has done, and been rewarded by the opposite results. So because you don't like Trump personally, you'd vote to put a Dem in office, just so you can like your president, and loose all the improvements.... lol
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Opinion interesting editing, everybodys mouth is open but your favorites
Opinion What do you call a gang of idiots? The 20 dimm candidates...
Opinion dems offer nothing how they will maintain/improve our economy. all their agendas: medicare for illegals; MORE HANDOUTS/WELFARE, MORE TAXES, MORE GOVT; KILL JOB CREATING-WEALTH--will surely put a stop to our prosperity n roaring economy. remember obama's chronic stagnant economy?
Opinion What if more people are working and making more money while they have no healthcare coverage being hit with devastating costs putting them in poverty.
Opinion It might be the economy. But the crisis at our southern border will more than make up for any lax in the economy. This THE DEMOCRATS OWN! Once again, they are betting on the wrong horse. They are even betting on the wrong track.
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Opinion Democrats hoping Americans will suffer.
Opinion Trump's inability to stay focused on one issue won't allow them to talk about the economy over and over. Trump gets bored easily and can't stay focused on one issue like his advisors want him to.
Opinion Believe the women (Anita Hill) !!!!!
Opinion You can say the economy is great, but I think Democrats realize, that most Americans would agree, they have NEVER seen as many people, families and children living on the streets of modern America. It shows how detached the market numbers are, from the working Americans reality!
Opinion The Democrat's could care less about Americans. It's all about the power.
Opinion Democrats want to ruin the economy to have something to run on. Most of their schemes are based around appeal of 'free stuff' to non taxpaying citizens. Those who actually pay taxes should be wise enough to not allow a group of politicians to take and spend your hard earned $
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Opinion I only see another Hillary in picture. Obama urged Biden not to run in 2016...you can’t win Joe.
Opinion They're all corporate stooges. The DNC is a big joke. Not one worth wild individual in the whole pack.
Opinion Marianne2020 we need this woman for president!!! It’s time marwilliamson
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Opinion Trump held true to his promise to deregulate, lower taxes and either renegotiate or get out of bad trade deals, and the economy responded. Stock market off the charts and record low unemployment. The Dems are running on Trump hatred and economy killing socialist agendas.
Opinion The $2 TRILLION deficit in 2 years ECONOMY. ..that can't sustain itself but with 2% interest rates? Trump said he'd produce 5 -6 % GDP! WHAT were the numbers? 2.2 to 3%...TAIL END OF THE OBAMA ECONOMY.. NOTHING NEW! -NO NEW INDUSTRIES -NO NEW PRODUCTS DOW ABOUT TO DROP!
Opinion Its certainly NOT: Reparations, Totally 'Free' healthcare, Trans sex shared bathrooms, or Tuition Debt Forgiveness.
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Opinion Trumps economy is fantastic
Opinion Even thought I am unaware of any Democrat hoping for a recession. I can think of one clear reason why they would want this: to oust TRUMP
Opinion It is the economy stupd!
Opinion Once defense spending comes down I wonder how things will really work. 3.2 GDP and majority Military
Opinion If they believe Barack, the reason for the strong economy our country is enjoying, then they need to state 4 things, Barack did that turned the economy around. Like higher taxes on business, killing manufacturing jobs, bad trade deals, more federal regulations, more illegals.
Opinion Field of fools
Opinion The economy is slowing down. What I think will resonate with voters is decent working wages. Those that work 2 jobs just to survive, the economy isn't so great. And the tax scam.
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Opinion ..everything has gotten more expensive since 45....
Opinion Lol the demon rats ARE the stupid ....😂😂😂🙄🙄🙄🤫🤤🤦🏾♂️🤣🤣🤣🤣
Opinion Can you imagine being *such* a shitty President that, despite inheriting a strong economy, less than 40% of people think you’re doing a good job?
Opinion “Oh, we hope we can continue to act like this president has done no good. Hopefully the independents are stupid and don’t pay attention to things that matter.” Democrat’s platform 2020
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Opinion Anyone is better than a liar ( over 10,000 lies in office) guess who? trump the Jumbo liar
Opinion I care about pocketbook policies (or lacktherof) that affect it, but I ALSO care about justice and the rule of law. My 2020 vote will be a response to many issues, including getting Individual 1 and his crony swamp creatures outta the WH.
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Opinion Obama threw Trillions at the economy to end the Great Recession. Ryan n Tea party hounded him for years over debt. Ryan and Trump did the same with a Good Economy. No Magic, just a couple Trillion in Debt. Not even a new idea.
Opinion Democrats think the public is flat out stupid 🤣
Opinion What exactly do they have to offer to the American citizen? More taxes, bigger government, open borders, free everything, and their hate for POTUS. It's not a winning agenda.
Opinion Haha
Opinion Is this a joke For all those that pay higher gas prices, exploding healthcare costs and higher rents and grocery prices while getting meagre pay increases as billionaires and Corporations get massive tax cuts...It is the economy stupid in 2020!!!
Opinion Because the economy will be fantastic forever!
Opinion 20 politicians run because they get paid. They set their salaries and vacation trips just to give speeches to very small groups of people.
Opinion the liberals and most media are nuts.
Opinion NONE of these CLOWNS stands a chance against realDonaldTrump , no matter the dirty job u do on trump his Base stands SOLID!
Opinion Are Democrats hoping the economy turns sour?
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Opinion TulsiGabbard Tulsi2020
Opinion I see it
Opinion I fixed your headline for you.
Opinion Trump is taking credit for an economy that the Obama administration brought back to life. Yes, Trump passed a short term tax reduction for the rich but with the ever spiraling deficit the economy is in peril. The shrinking middle class, what is being done?
Opinion Well it is the Economy!
Opinion It’s the economy, Stupid! WINNING
Opinion Nah it's more like reparation. universal income, medicaid for all, free college tution and political correctness to the point of absurdity .
Opinion POOR people DO NOT hire Poor people, Rich company's hire people. It's about JOBS that will get that Lazy ass kid out of your Basements, Nearly 95% of all new jobs during Obama era were part-time, or contract. Trumps wants FULL TIME and LONG TIME JOBS! Not just Government jobs!
Opinion Obama said Trump would need a magic wand to bring back jobs. The media promised that the market would crash & that Democrats said 3% economic growth was impossible. They were all wrong.
Opinion The economy has never been better, record low unemployment, jobs for all!! Democratic policies have always been anti- business...small and large.Socialism doesn’t work!!
Opinion I will vote with my wallet, as I've always done. Since the 2016 election, I've received : 1- bonus and 3 raises 2- more hours 3- a tax break 4- 5 children working 5- no North Korean missiles 6- no NK nuke testing 7- ACA penalty rescinded 8- Trade deals fixed MAGA
Opinion I doubt it, it’s the idiot at the top for republicans
Opinion Baby killers... Presidential candidates Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders have voted 'NO' on a bill that would've required doctors to provide medical care to infants born alive after an attempted abortion.
Opinion Just like in the midterms, it's healthcare, stupid.
Opinion Saving small amounts of money for emergencies? Interest rates are incredibly low.
Opinion Hope? They have more than hope. They have CNN telling people their tax cuts didnt really happen, and ignored the rest of the great economy with a 3 year fake news coverage of Russiagate nonstop.
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Opinion Keep Obama's economic regulations in place and this economy would not be moving at all we would still be at a 1.8 GDP
Opinion NOBODY WILL DEFEAT TRUMP IN 2020. HE'S HERE TILL 2024. Maga 🇺🇸💯
Opinion Stupid
Opinion No need to Join Politics to serve our Nation. You're KING. You can serve our AMERICA better than any Politician. C'mon Brother & Sister..........Let's CHANGE everything in the RIGHT Direction.
Opinion Dumb Tweets again; the entire middle class has been crunched while the rich get richer, we don't see 'the economy'. We want part of it and only Democrats will make the rich a criminal for having billions of dollars over any want and billions of people going without.
Opinion The economy doesn't give me an extra 100,000 a year, the min I would need to treat my son's brain tumor if it returned after Republicans restore denial for preexisting conditions- or separate unaffordable insurance costs. Could never be good enough to make up for a dead child
Opinion Economy for who? Majority of wages have not gone up, healthcare is losing its protections, big banks are back preditor lending, cost of fuel etc up. Education not addressed at all. No 21stc jobs no working on getting young in solid working jobs.
Opinion The Obama economy.
Opinion It is. However the economy isn’t good for everyone.
Opinion Let’s make it about things that suck. 👍🏼. Cool plan.
Opinion Hope and change failed. We now have jobs and dollars thanks PRESIDENT TRUMP
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Opinion Any Democrat who doesn’t try to shove their vision of government down the voter’s throat has a chance. The problem is finding that candidate.
Opinion Why is it that the picture makes me think of this....
Opinion Green new deal is better than good economy.
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Opinion Before Trump's 4 years are up, the economy will take a nose dive. It cannot survive the huge, huge deficit Trump created with his tax cut for the rich. If you are middle class or lower, do you feel a better economy? I don't think so.
Opinion Why would Americans want to go backward to an Obama-like economy? The GDP in Obama’s 8th and final year was a paltry 1.8%. Record number of Americans working now!
Opinion Breaking News: With the hate towards Christianity, another church attack 5 killed in suspected jihadist attack on Burkina Faso church – reports — RT World News
Opinion we would have to be stupid to vote for trump after obama did all the work bringing back the economy after the GOP destroyed it.. by the 6th year he would be right there with bush we need to stop hm now all hes doing is causing a greater divide between the rich and regular citizen
Opinion Trump's economy boost is on mostly credit. The bill will be produced when he's in the off. It's stolen from the future, from our sons and daughters. And he don't care ...
Opinion Yeah, the economy is a huge deal and I highly doubt any of the clowns in your little picture could do any better, or even match the progress. The denial is unreal.
Opinion They need to explain why the economy is where it is and what the long term effect will be. Debt. They can turn that into it is a 'stupid economy.' It is not real, it is not permanent. Temporary fix financed by excessive tax cuts for the wealthy and big business.
Opinion Not to the socialist
Opinion There is definitely no hope in that clownshow collage. Give it a rest.
Opinion THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM HAS CRIPPLED POLITICAL PROGRESS!!! GRIDLOCK IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY!!!
Opinion Hello 👋 with a booming economy you have to wonder about running on a Socialist everything for free agenda is going to sway voters away from Your President Trump.
Opinion DerangedDonald
Opinion The democrats' slogan in 2020: 'Who needs jobs and higher wages when you can have free college for the millenials and higher taxes on the unearned income from your plummeting retirement accounts?'
Opinion Lol CNN still doesn't understand the economy
Opinion Trump is a liar and cheat.