Former Obama adviser Plouffe predicts ‘historical level’ of turnout by Trump supporters

Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe on Thursday predicted that supporters of President Trump will turn out “at a historical level” on Election Day, creating a “very dangerous” scenario for former Vice President Joe Biden.

Plouffe, speaking on the “Fox News Rundown” podcast shortly after record-high jobless claims were announced, said Trump voters will head to the polls to cast their ballots for the president despite the coronavirus pandemic and economic fallout.

“You look at the economic situation and say, ‘How can an incumbent win in that?’ But, you know, no one’s blaming Trump for the damage,” Plouffe said. “I think if you can lay his crisis response at his feet and connect that to the economy, I do think that’s some headwind he’s got to run into.”

Plouffe, who was considered the architect of former President Obama’s successful 2008 White House bid, said Trump is still well positioned for repeat victories in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin “because his base is so solid.”

“And I think he’s going to turn out voters almost at a historical level on his behalf, so that makes him very dangerous if you’re Joe Biden,” Plouffe added.

Trump won what were considered “Blue Wall” states including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania in 2016 when he unexpectedly defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Biden holds small leads over Trump in each of those three states, according to the RealClearPolitics index of polls, while Trump has a slight edge in Florida.

In a Gallup poll released last week, 94 percent of Republicans approve of the president’s performance, with his job approval at 49 percent among all voters.

A recent ABC News-Washington Post survey found that 74 percent of Biden voters support him enthusiastically, compared with 86 percent of Trump supporters who back the president with that same level.