2020, the election campaigns have begun

[robkelk]

Or, well, one major candidate.  We really have no idea who will be running on the Republican side.  I'm not saying that removal from office is even likely, but we're in a world where we at least have a 1% chance of President Pelosi under the Constitution's Klingon promotion rule. If Republican operatives were sane, they'd start looking around to pick someone else because right now Trump looks like a very weak candidate if his presidency even survives to the general election.

It isn't as if the Republicans haven't been in this position in the past. Alexander Panetta: Trump's impeachment drama is not that different from Nixon's:

When the scandal first erupted, Nixon had rock-solid support from Republicans. The polling agency Gallup says its data shows a mere six per cent of Republican supporters wanted Nixon impeached in June 1973, after public hearings had begun. ("Very similar to Trump," said Jeff Jones, senior editor at Gallup, in a recent interview.)

That grew to 12 per cent by December, 20 per cent by June 1974 and 31 per cent in early August, when Washington Republicans told Nixon he'd have to quit or be impeached. His support had also tanked among independents, and Republicans were worried about the impending midterm elections.

In comparison, Trump's at the same stage now where Nixon was when 6% of Republicans supported impeachment of Nixon. That analysis says 10% of Republicans support impeachment of Trump. So, if the history of the Republican Party is anything to go by... well, draw your own conclusions.