And if the overall economic numbers remain strong, the Democratic nominee will be looking for a pathway to defeat Mr. Trump that is distinctly different from those taken the last two times an incumbent president lost. Historically, when a president seeks re-election, it amounts to a referendum on the state of the economy. The last two one-term presidents were undone by economic slowdowns; they battled jobless rates of 7.4 percent (George H.W. Credit Yuri Gripas/ReutersMoreover, voters appear to be more positive about the economy than they have been in many years. Most prefer to change the subject to longer-term problems than to get wrapped up in debates over the Obama economic record or budget deficits.

Source: New York Times May 26, 2019 06:30 UTC