That statement reeks of old time thinking from the 1990s or early 2000s when issues mattered. Now, unfortunately, politics has acquired religious dimensions, where policies and consequences of those policies do not matter. Only the creed you espouse matters. Especially when one side has been painted as Nazis and racists and fascists, it removes them from contention for votes, no matter the policy failures of the other side. I don't think people will let a little inflation or a bit of a crime wave in the neighborhood force them to pull the lever for Nazis.
You have too little faith in most Americans.