There was a terrific quote from Joe Hockey, the Australian ambassador to the United States, this week.

This, he said, is the modern Rome, referring to Washington. He made the point because he’s loving being in the middle of it and wants to stay.

Furthermore, he said what most impartial observers of matters have concluded to this point, that Donald Trump has a very strong chance of re-election.

One of the more interesting aspects of the human condition to observe this year will be the reaction of those who hate Trump, have always hated Trump, have spent far too much of their life time and energy  getting exercised about their hate, and will, well, do lord knows what if he wins.

Part of their problem of course is along with the hate, they’ve failed to park their emotion long enough to study fact, and the fact is he has a lot going for him. The trade deal, the economy and all its various facets, the senate trial which will end in his victory and no amount of whining from the Democrats will change it, and the sadness of that farce is hey started it and they didn’t need to.

And then, on top of that, there is field of potential opponents who are slowly but surely descending into open warfare. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren calling each other liars on stage last week is but merely the beginning, mark my words.

This is not to say Trump is a shoe in, far from it. We are here in January, the vote is in November, the world changes a lot in a year, but, as always, history is instructive.

And history tells us economies broadly win elections and America’s economy in so many aspects, from optimism to jobs to spending, is as robust as any.

Factor in all the unique aspects of the system - the electoral college and the need to get certain votes in certain states - and you have yourself at this stage, at worst a close sort of race. and best for Trump, a landslide.

Hate him all you want, but a politician who is, within a margin, good to his word, holds if not gains support. You may not have liked the wall or the trade deals or the spending changes, but he said he’d do it and he has.

And if you voted for that and got it, why wouldn’t you vote for that again, especially if the alternative is a millionaire socialist?

And as the world stands by, aghast at perhaps the crass unsophisticated nature he uses to run the place, never forget the world doesn’t vote. The America First view of matters appeals to a lot of Americans and its Americans who vote, not us.

To dismiss him is to fail to understand the American psyche, their political make up, their outlook, their view of the world - not everyone of course, but more than enough of them.

Joe Hockey sees it and is riveted - me too.