Getty Image
In the final days before Election Day, prominent election analyst Larry Sabato is sounding the alarm on what he sees as a potential misstep that could harm Donald Trump’s support among moderate and undecided voters. Appearing on CNN early Saturday, Sabato, who is the founder of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, suggested that Trump’s recent remarks about former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) may be the final push that drives some moderate voters away from the former president.
During the discussion with CNN host Amara Walker, Sabato addressed Trump’s inflammatory comments, in which Trump suggested Cheney should “face guns.” This language, according to Sabato, crosses a line for many voters and could be a breaking point, especially for those who are still undecided.
Walker raised the question, “Is he worried about losing undecided or moderate voters? Should he be?” “Oh, absolutely he should be,” Sabato responded. “He went way too far on Liz Cheney.” Sabato elaborated on the potential impact, noting that this kind of rhetoric could deter the moderate voters Trump needs if he wants a viable path to victory. “I think it’s having an impact.
The Harris campaign is saying it is having an impact on the remaining undecided voters,” Sabato continued. He added that while it might be difficult to precisely track the effect, the Harris campaign has reported a shift among undecided voters in favor of Kamala Harris, Trump’s rival in the race.
“I don’t know how they can track them; there are so few of them, relatively speaking,” Sabato admitted. “But apparently, they say that it’s caused these undecideds to break towards Kamala Harris.” He stressed that data analysis from a nonpartisan perspective would be necessary to confirm the trends, but he voiced skepticism that Trump’s comments could do anything to benefit his campaign.
“This is extreme rhetoric from anybody, much less a presidential candidate,” Sabato said, reflecting on Trump’s decision to double down rather than clarify or soften his comments. According to Sabato, it’s a strategic choice that may remind voters what a Trump presidency could entail in the coming years, especially if his campaign continues to allow such inflammatory statements.
“This is Donald Trump, which reminds people what the next four years are going to look like. What they are going to look like if Donald Trump is back in the White House,” Sabato concluded. Sabato’s perspective adds to the larger discourse about Trump’s strategy as Election Day nears. With undecided voters becoming rarer as the election approaches, both campaigns are now heavily focused on consolidating support and drawing in any remaining undecideds.
Trump’s harsh rhetoric toward figures like Cheney, however, could be off-putting to moderates who have yet to make up their minds. In these critical last days, Sabato’s warning suggests that while Trump’s comments may solidify support among his base, they may simultaneously risk alienating a smaller yet significant pool of moderates and independents — the voters who could ultimately sway the election’s outcome.
