President Donald Trump has the power to "attract many Independents" and pull off a November surprise on behalf of Republican incumbents and candidates, Andrew Malcolm wrote in a column for McClatchy.
The Democratic party is coming apart at the seams, stricken by a lurch to the left that will not resonate with the heartland of America.
"The internal wounds will come when their primary debates stray into policy areas stretching far beyond standard liberal orthodoxy," Malcolm writes. "Democratic members and their leadership are dangerously concentrated on the coasts and in the geriatric set."
That leaves a gaping opportunity for Trump and Republicans, who have a booming economy to show for their efforts.
The big question is this: Can the president hit the "presidential" button long enough to connect with undecided Independent voters?
"If Trump had the self-discipline to tell Trump to stay on one message, dump the hyperbolic false claims and needless, distracting attacks on others, he could attract many Independents seeking someone more presidential," Malcolm writes.
"And become a more powerful president, while remaining true to the Trump that Trump and his base love," Malcolm writes. "Few think he can. But then few thought he could be elected either.
"A famous American once said, 'It's very easy to be presidential.' That famous American was Donald Trump. So, let's see some of it," Malcolm concludes.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.