Trump had the power and campaign to push them to the side. Thinking that will be an easy fete for Deval and others is a big leap.
Indeed. Voters and the human mind are quite willing to fall into denial or rationalization but you have to give them a reason first- If they have not bought into you or anything you are doing then all they see are the faults. Refer to Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand's campaigns for more on this.
Both Trump and Obama had potentially fatal flaws- Trump's well known, and Barry's muslim heritage, Rev. Wright america hating connection, Rev. Farrakan Nation of Islam connection, etc.
But both of them ran full scale Chautauqua tent revival style campaigns with issues and personalities larger than life. Once you have been swaying with the crowds and come down to the front of the tent to declare that you are born again you are able to rationalize a lot.
Deval's little secrets there in Massachusetts are highly manageable if he were/is able to give people a reason to rationalize them. I mean, shiite, Massachusetts consistently re-elected a man who was a serial womanizer, a severe alcoholic, and who had killed a woman at Chappaquiddick. But he had the kennedy charm and power and aura around him. Deval, either not so much, or not yet. But then again, you only need the personality of a Russet Potato to be VP or a cabinet member so he may be on track to meet his career goals.
Joe doesn't exactly have voters swaying with the crowds either. He just has name recognition from when he was an altar boy at Obama's tent revival meetings. That will only get ya so far.