‘Like choosing between a hedgehog and a porcupine’: US braces for presidential election no one wants

A survey’s respondents were asked what would happen if the opposing party won. Their answers were dire and specific. Illustration: Marcus Peabody/Getty Images

In past years, the first phase of the general election has involved at least one of the presidential nominees introducing themselves to the broader public and presenting their case for taking the country in a new direction. But that has been rendered unnecessary this year: former president Donald Trump and president Joe Biden are very familiar to the American electorate – and they are broadly unpopular.

“I think this is the worst election in my lifetime,” said George Argodale, a Nikki Haley supporter from Gainesville, Virginia. “It’s just terrible that we don’t have better candidates.”