Wed Sep 18 02:02:44 UTC 2024: ## Trump’s Latest Brush with Death: Will it Benefit Him?
**Crikey, Australia** – The recent arrest of Ryan Routh, who allegedly planned to assassinate former President Donald Trump, has sparked debate about the potential political impact of the incident. While the threat to Trump was thwarted, the question remains: could a similar incident have affected the political fortunes of a different candidate, like Vice President Kamala Harris?
Historically, assassination attempts and even successful assassinations have had a complex and often contradictory effect on political races.
The article analyzes several historical cases:
* **George Wallace:** The Alabama governor, a notorious racist, was shot five times during a 1972 presidential campaign. Though initially appearing to benefit him, the attack ultimately ended his campaign.
* **Ronald Reagan:** The shooting of the then-newly elected President Reagan in 1981 saw a surge in his approval ratings, ultimately leading to a landslide victory in 1984.
* **John F. Kennedy:** The assassination of JFK in 1963 led to a landslide victory for Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1964 election.
* **William McKinley:** McKinley’s assassination in 1901 preceded a decade of Republican control of the White House.
The article concludes that while there is no clear pattern, assassination attempts and deaths have had a significant impact on political races.
The author notes that the current political landscape is unprecedented and makes it difficult to predict the impact of such events. However, the history of presidential assassinations suggests that they can influence public sentiment and, therefore, election outcomes.
First Piper 