Dr. Katherine Jellison
CNN quotes Dr. Katherine Jellison, Professor & Chair of History at Ohio University, in a story headlined “Melania Trump, once a reluctant campaigner, is hitting the trail.”
The cheering crowds and amped-up atmosphere on the surface could seem the opposite comfort zone for a first lady not routinely used to that kind of vibe, but Katherine Jellison, professor of history at Ohio University and an expert on first ladies, says that’s just the kind of space Trump should own.
“Trump fans already like her and will respond positively,” said Jellison. “She will probably be most effective in talking to voters who already also like her husband, and not those who are on the fence, or are skeptical about him as a candidate for reelection. I don’t think she has crossover appeal for people who aren’t already in the Trump camp.”
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Showcasing her relationship could be a motivator for 2020 that it wasn’t necessarily for 2016.
“In 2016, it was a long-shot campaign, and expectations were low,” Jellison said. “But now they are playing for history. We know Donald Trump doesn’t like to lose, and I think the same may apply to Melania.”
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