Well that was anti-climactic. Despite his opponents spending hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat him, Donald Trump has apparently locked up the Republican Party nomination for this year’s American presidential election.

It isn’t usually over after the first primary, but such is the state of the Republican Party. And indeed of America.

Now Trump’s opponents have to put their hopes in him either being locked up (he’s facing multiple felony charges) or dropping dead. I don’t see either as likely.

Four years ago I wouldn’t have expected another Trump versus Biden election in 2024. Joe Biden was the perfect candidate to defeat Trump in 2020, People flocked to him because he was boring, and after four years of White House melodrama, boring looked pretty good to most Americans.

Biden is still boring, but now he seems old also. Too old to do the job.

He may think he’s up to it, and he may be right, but perceptions are important. Trump, almost four years younger than Biden’s 81, seems a lot younger due to his bluster. To some, his anger makes him appear competent.

Nikki Haley needed a strong showing in New Hampshire Tuesday to remain in the race to challenge Trump for the nomination. Realistically, she needed to defy all the odds and win.

On Tuesday she didn’t quite manage it. In a state where she was considered to have her best chance at a win, she still fell short by ten percentage points. My guess is she will announce she is quitting the race, maybe even before this gets posted.

In Canada, recent polls have shown Donald Trump to be more popular than Justin Trudeau. That is not saying much of course, as Trudeau is one of the most unpopular prime ministers in recent memory.

Poll numbers don’t always reflect voter intention. I think Trudeau would still beat Trump in a contest, though the question is moot. Trudeau can’t run in the United States because he wasn’t born there. Trump can’t run in Canada because no political party would accept someone with his track record as a candidate.

Trump’s easy path to the Republican nomination spares him the rigors of a grueling primary campaign. Joe Biden is also basically uncontested for the Democratic Party nomination, which mean that for all intents and purposes the presidential election campaign starts today.

I’m sure I’ll have a lot to say as the campaign progresses. I’m not sure a Trump-Biden rematch is good for democracy in general or the United States in particular.

One thing I am sure though is that by the time voting day rolls around in November, most Americans are going to be sick and tired of the democratic process. I wonder how much that will affect the outcome?