MINNEAPOLIS — For the second time in two months, an apparent attack has been made on former President Donald Trump’s life.
“This is certainly an unprecedented series of assassination attempts,” University of Minnesota political science Professor Larry Jacobs says.
To his knowledge, Professor Jacobs says he can’t recall a time when a U.S. political candidate experienced multiple assassination attempts.
“Though I have to say, the Secret Service doesn’t advertise the attempts, so we don’t have the full record,” Jacobs says.
Looking at history Jacobs says there have been times when Americans have changed their minds about a president or presidential candidate shortly after an assassination attempt.
"Ronald Reagan for instance, the attempt on his life, there was an increase in sympathy and support for Ronald Reagan, but within a month it was back to where it had been back before the assassination attempt."
Professor Jacobs says Trump experienced the same boost after the first attempt on his life, but once again the benefit was short-lived.
Jacobs believes the same cycle will happen this second time around, with the sympathy fading long before Election Day.
“There is a 'sympathy vote' that you tend to see after an attempted assassination of a president or high-level or government official, but that usually doesn’t change the overall sentiment. You’ll see a change and then a reversion to where things were,” Jacobs explains.
"The overwhelming number of voters have made up their mind. There's a battle now for a very small number of undecided voters who are sitting on the fence."
However, the apparent assassination attempt on Sunday could lead to increased security for both campaigns moving forward.
Shortly after the first attempt on Donald Trump’s life, the campaign started using bulletproof glass during outdoor campaign speeches.
Jacobs says this extra security could impact access voters have with both presidential candidates moving forward.
“We’re going to see greater perimeters, more officers. It’s going to become intimidating and very difficult for everyday voters to get much of a personal connection with the candidates.”
Jacobs says major news events in the coming weeks could also impact the election.
If one of the conflicts overseas escalates, or if there are significant changes to the U.S. economy during the final days of the election, Jacobs says voters could be easily swayed.
"I think it's quite possible we're going to see something called an 'October Surprise,' that we are not anticipating now that could shake things up."