To the uninitiated, the Donald Trump insurgency must look like the nadir of democracy, more about “pussy” than politics. Although Nixon won the popular vote in more individual states (26 to 22), Kennedy won an electoral college victory of 303 to 219. The Know Nothings exploited popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by immigrants, who were seen as enemies of the republic and, more sinister still, controlled by the pope. In the 1800 presidential election, Jefferson fought John Adams, whose supporters charged that Jefferson was a godless libertine in thrall to the French. From some points of view, the ferocity of Trump v Clinton is evidence of vigour not breakdown.

Source: The Guardian November 06, 2016 00:00 UTC