Why Trump win is on cards despite his unorthodox, controversial ways

THE US Democrats hold their latest presidential debate on Wednesday in a bid to narrow down the party's still-large 2020 field of candidates. While Donald Trump's poll figures remain weak, amid the opening salvos of his impeachment hearings in Congress, he remains the potential favourite in next year's election, despite a highly unorthodox and controversial three years in the White House.

While a large body of US and international publics - including this author - have long been critical of Mr Trump, the fact remains that (as in 2016) several key political and economic fundamentals are acting like tailwinds for his re-election in November 2020.

Central to this case is the performance of the economy which continues to hum along in what became last July the longest period of expansion in US history dating back some 121 months, and counting, since the Great Recession.