I don't see any evidence that coming indictments are generating more support for Trump

[bigtree]

...more than they're causing republican officials to scramble to figure out how to justify having their leading presidential candidate under indictment.

The Associated Press @AP 5h
Former President Donald Trump’s calls for protests ahead of his anticipated indictment in New York have generated muted reactions from supporters, with even some of his most ardent loyalists dismissing the idea as a waste of time or a law enforcement trap.

The ambivalence raises questions about whether Trump, though a leading Republican contender in the 2024 presidential race who retains a devoted following, still has the power to mobilize far-right supporters the way he did more than two years ago before the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. It also suggests that the hundreds of arrests that followed the Capitol riot, not to mention the convictions and long prison sentences, may have dampened the desire for repeat mass unrest.

...nearly two days after Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and exhorted followers to protest, there were few signs his appeal had inspired his supporters to organize and rally around an event like the Jan. 6 gathering. In fact, a prominent organizer of rallies that preceded the Capitol riot posted on Twitter that he intended to remain on the sidelines.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-jan-6-protest-f19306253133d9dacd65667bd5b4650c


new, from Alexander Burns:

Stop Overthinking It: An Indictment Would Be Bad For Trump

For all his unusual strengths, Trump is defined these days more by his weaknesses — personal and political deficiencies that have grown with time and now figure to undermine any attempt to exploit the criminal case against him.

His base of support is too small, his political imagination too depleted and his instinct for self-absorption too overwhelming for him to marshal a broad, lasting backlash. His determination to look inward and backward has been a problem for his campaign even without the indictment. It will be a bigger one if and when he’s indicted.

...those supporters are a minority of the country, as Republicans have learned the hard way several times over. Stimulating Trump’s personal following was not enough to save the House for his party in 2018 or to defend the White House and the Senate in 2020, or to summon a red wave in 2022.

Trump needs to grow his support, not merely rev up people who already care deeply about his every utterance and obsession. It is not likely that many Americans who are not already part of Trump’s base will be inspired to join it because they feel he is being mistreated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/03/20/indictment-trump-bad-vote-00087892

[secondwind]

1. In my opinion, he is history.

Yes, he has a lot of followers, but not as many as before. If he couldn’t win last time, he surely isn’t going to win next year.

[Lettuce Be]

2. That was laughable on its face. Are independents and moderates going to suddenly like him...

after he's indicted? Doubt it. He's not more desirable, he's a person under indictment. Yes, innocent people can be indicted, but this guy? He's got so many crimes coming to light -- it's going to be a seriously bumpy road for him, and no, voters are not going to be impressed.