AUSTIN, Texas — Central Texas political experts say the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump could change the trajectory of the election. They say the shooting is something that can be used to shape the rest of the campaign trail for both sides.
Brian Smith, a professor of political science at St. Edward's University, said we were a mere inches away from having a very different looking election in the fall.
“Trump was shot. He survived. So, in that sense, the race is not going to change,” Smith said. “But what has happened is this has fundamentally altered the way the race is going to work.”
Smith said for Trump, the assassination attempt strengthens his image.
“One of the biggest things that Donald Trump was running from was that he was a convicted felon,” Smith said. “That's what the Biden administration was really going to try to push, and that kind of gets pushed aside now.”
Smith said Trump is the second president to have survived an assassination attempt since former President Ronald Reagan, which really boosted support for him at the time.
“The Trump campaign right now has an issue that is going to be able to get them energy and money. We know that campaigns run on money and this is going to be a fundraising opportunity,” Smith said.
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He said President Biden's campaign, which was focused on painting Trump as an extreme candidate and criminal, is in a difficult position. He said people are still focusing on Biden’s poor debate performance, and many top issues between candidates, like abortion, will be pushed to the back burner due to the event.
Smith said the Biden administration must completely change its strategy.
“If he comes off as a candidate who's not enthusiastic, a candidate who doesn't really mobilize, it's not because of his policies that will cost him the election. It's because he's not able to get voters out to the polls,” Smith said.
While the shooting may not sway which candidate people may vote for, it could sway voters to not vote at all.
“It may work for independent voters who said, you know, ‘I don't like either of these candidates, but now, based upon the difference between them, I'd rather have Donald Trump.' Or what it might do is discourage some voters. They might have said, you know, ‘I don't like either of these candidates now,'" Smith said.
Smith said President Biden must prove to Americans that he is a strong candidate and said the president’s new campaign strategy will likely focus on his own strengths and credibility.
“If they are going to attack Donald Trump, they have to be very careful with their language because anything that really makes it even more incendiary is going to backfire on them,” Smith said.
While the shooting may be a hot topic now, Smith said it isn't the most important part of the race – that's policy.
“Stay focused,” Smith said. “Do your research, learn about the candidates, learn about the policies that are important to you and see where the candidates stand on those issues because that's what we want from a president.”
Smith said President Biden's visit to Austin, which was canceled after the shooting, could have been a chance to counteract the Republican National Convention. He said the president has been very respectful of the events.