I don't subscribe to the NYT so can't read the article, but I've been saying for ages that Trump losing this November is actually better for American conservatism in the long run, and also makes a radical left presidency (Biden is no socialist) less likely. https://twitter.com/Peter_Wehner/status/1297894894804115456

Scenario: Trump scrapes re-election, leaving the Democrats even more devastated than last time. Any hints of moderation or centrism left in the Democrat Party get incinerated in a firestorm of progressive anger.

The Dems become unashamedly socialist and select a hard-left candidate in 2024, or at the very least, someone running on a far-left platform (and no, Joe Biden does not count as far-left).

Meanwhile between 2020 and 2024, the GOP becomes even more hollowed out, existing solely as a cult to Trump. He still doesn't reach Bush 2008 levels of unpopularity, but enough of the country hate him with such ferocity that they'll do anything to get the GOP out.

In such a scenario, is it really hard to see even a decent Republican candidate (who will nonetheless have to adopt aspects of Trump's style for the base) lose to a hard-left Democrat?