Trump is a rather dumb politician, in my opinion.

[kentuck]

By calling for immediate vote, "without delay", on a new SC Justice, he shows how arrogant and short-sighted he truly is.

If there are Republicans that really do not like him personally, but like the SC appointments, why should they vote for him if they can get their SC Justice regardless?

A smarter political maneuver would be hold off on the nomination and inform Republican voters that they need to vote for him if they want another conservative Justice. It seems to me that would get him more votes on election day.

He does not show a keen political awareness.

[TwilightZone]

1. Nope. He understands exactly how to manipulate the system.

That should be obvious by now.

I'm kind of amazed at how many people think that this is going to change anything with regards to his support. It's historically stable and there are zero signs that anything will change that by November, including this.

This is how they *want* him to act. Do you really not understand that?

[kentuck]

5. He believes he will be rewarded after the fact.

I'm not sure many that voted for him in the past will reward him with their vote if it is not necessary?
(I cannot believe he would get more votes by making nomination now rather than promising one after the election)

[stopdiggin]

8. this is "chumming the waters" with his base

but the base is already there -- secure -- and 100% down with a Trump vote. The political calculation then becomes -- how can I add to that total? IMO, the OP is correct. A typical Trump move -- and fully half of his moves are political losers. He's NOT a great politician.
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[BKDem]

2. The only thing the rest of us can take any comfort in is, he's really stupid. On every level.

[MiniMe]

3. tRump is not a politician

He is an authoritarian dictator. And you know what a dictator is, it is what you get when you cross a penis with a potato

[grumpyduck]

6. You beat me to it.

He's not a politician. Never was. He's just an asshole who's always gotten his way and refuses to even think otherwise.

[BlueJac]

4. Trump is an emotionless asshole!

[mzmolly]

7. He wants help with election

theft IMO.

[chriscan64]

9. A good politician would have done anything to stop the virus.

What do the experts say? Do that. He could have got his mob to wear masks from day one. Now he can't even get them to do it with his "change of tone". He's not a good enough politician to get his own base to change course once he realizes he led them astray. A good politician will do something sorta good and pass it off as great. Trump is too stupid and lazy for that. His only plan was to "just say" everything was great.

On the supreme court spot, I don't think it would matter for the election. Everyone knows he can do it in the lame duck session if he loses. He cannot tie the election to the spot on the court unless the Senate sets it up that way, which it won't.