Political Wire

SubscribeSign in
  • Front Page
  • Trending
  • Polling
  • Trial Balloon
  • Books
  • Membership
    • Members FAQ
    • Exclusive Analysis
    • My Favorites
  • Sign In
Theme
Text size

Republicans Edit Out Years of Rancor

July 18, 2024 · 7:53 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Over three nights, the Republican Party has set out to redefine Donald Trump, one of the best-known and most polarizing figures on the political stage, methodically portraying him as a kindly and compassionate paterfamilias capable of uniting Americans during a tumultuous time,” the New York Times reports.

“It is a brazen effort after nearly a decade in which Mr. Trump’s style — abrasive and norm-breaking — has helped to redefine American politics and made him such a dominant and divisive figure. The goal seems clear: to make Mr. Trump less threatening and more palatable to moderates and women, groups that have been put off by Mr. Trump’s demeanor and actions, but are critical to his hopes of defeating President Biden in November.”

Limited-time offer

Try Political Wire Free for 60 days

Members get Talking Points analysis, Trending News, the Polling Dashboard, the Trial Balloon podcast, new site features and no ads. Start your free trial

2024 Campaign

← PreviousThe U.S. Is Not at WarNext →Biden Has Only Made Things Worse Since the Debate

Keep reading

Front page →

Political Wire is reader-supported. Join for ad-free reading, member posts and new features →

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

More about Taegan Goddard →

?Political Trivia

  • The Way It Was
    Eight moments in political history. Put them on a timeline.
    Play →
  • Yea or Nay?
    Five senators. Three bills. Can you guess how they all voted?
    Play →
  • Split Decision
    Nine Justices. One case. How did they rule?
    Play →
  • Pollster
    Do you have your finger on the pulse of America?
    Play →
  • Daily Trivia
    Four questions a day.
    Play →

A new game every day.

Your Account

Members

For the full experience, sign in.

Become a Member

Read everything on Political Wire. No ads, Talking Points analysis, Trial Balloon podcast, new features and more.

  • Join Political Wire
  • Gift a Membership

Members Only

  • The Outsider Who Can’t Govern
  • A Bigger Majority, a Different Headache
  • Trump Dragged Down GOP Governors, Too
  • Understanding the Scale of the Democratic Victory
  • The Election That Changed Everything
  • A Historic Night for Diversity

More members only posts →

Electoral Map Electoral Vote Map

222Democrat 97Toss-up 219Republican
270

Make your own map →

The starting map is built from how each state has voted compared with the country as a whole, not from how a state voted on its own. The last two presidential elections, with 2024 counting more than 2020. Then we…

Updated Nov. 4, 2026

?Political Trivia

  • The Way It Was →
  • Yea or Nay? →
  • Split Decision →
  • Pollster →
  • Daily Trivia →

Copyright © 2026 · Goddard Media LLC

Political Wire® is a registered trademark of Goddard Media LLC

Also from Goddard Media: Political Dictionary · Political Job Hunt · Electoral Vote Map

Privacy PolicyCorrections PolicyContact