Peter Baker in NYT: ‘President Trump implored voters over the course of the midterm campaign to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” He said it not once, not twice, but 47 times this fall. And voters did — just not the way he hoped.’ And: ‘Frustrated by high gas prices, an intractable war with Iran and allegations of flagrant profiteering by Mr. Trump and members of his circle, voters who previously took a chance on an outsider promising change either rejected his party or stayed home.’

As well: ‘“I [Trump]wasn’t on the ticket, and because I wasn’t on the ticket, we couldn’t get enough people out to vote,” he told The Times.’

Also: ‘“It doesn’t mean the MAGA coalition is crumbling,” she [Lynn Vavrek, a professor of American politics] said. “Does it mean the shine has come off Donald Trump a little bit? Yes.”’

MAGA is not defeated. Trump’s shine is fading.

(a sf 2278)