In the 1970s, Trident Gum came up with this slogan: “Four out of five dentists surveyed recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum.”

Of course, that’s 80 percent of dentists. And 80 percent is compelling, indeed. The statistic is effective because relying on an expert’s credibility, such as a doctor, can have massive sway over our opinion on a matter.

In fact, Nielsen research shows that 85 percent of consumers seek out a trusted expert when considering a purchase and that 67 percent of consumers agree that an endorsement from an expert makes them more likely to make a purchase.

Many say this would help explain why President’s Trump’s endorsement record of candidates is stronger than any other political figure in America today. Some might argue that voters view Trump as an “expert” (like a doctor) and his opinion (or endorsement) of a candidate makes the voter more likely to vote for that candidate.

And so far, the numbers bear that out. 80 percent of candidates endorsed by Trump won their election last year, and in primary elections, the win rate among his endorsements is even higher – 94 percent of Trump endorsed candidates won (140 wins this year alone).

Of course, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we must remember that correlation does not equal causation. You see, our brains tend to simplify information so we can make sense of it all, and in rushing to do so, we often make assumptions based on the slightest of relationships or bias. For example, during the summer, both ice cream consumption and sunburns increase (which are correlated), but one does not cause the other.

So, while we do know Trump endorsed candidates are winning elections, the question is this: Is there a causal relationship between Trump’s endorsement of a candidate and that candidate’s victory?

I say “no.” Certainly, at least, not in the uncontested races – 47 of Trump’s endorsed primary candidates were uncontested.

But setting that point aside, to say Trump’s endorsement correlates to an election victory misses the point, or the larger picture, and implies that Trump supporters have sheep-like loyalty for him and will blindly follow him. They aren’t sheep, though – they are diverse, critical thinkers. I mean, we’re not talking about Jim Jones or David Koresh here, or some other cult leader.

The popularity of Trump’s message is not primarily because of Trump, however. It never has been, and it never will be. His message resonates with millions of Americans – not because of his showmanship or his knowing the art of the deal, but because it’s a message that we already know to be true, and that men like Reagan and Churchill understood, as well: We can do more for ourselves than we think is possible, and there is greatness within all of us.

It’s a message larger than any fame or fortune Trump may have because, at the end of the day, it’s about we, the people, and realizing our greatest and best potential comes from within us, granted by God – not from what some government bureaucrat decides is best for us.

Trump is simply endorsing candidates whose campaigns profess those same beliefs, and those candidates (not surprisingly) are winning their races because most Republican voters (unlike most Democrats) understand that liberalism fails, every time – not because Trump told them but because they see the same themselves.

Look at most of the major U.S. cities led by liberal Democrats to see they are in rough shape – higher rates of homelessness, violent crime, gangs, unemployment, budget deficits, corruption – and compare them to communities that are Republican-led. People are fed up, including 64% of Democrats who say they want a candidate other than Biden in the 2024 election and it’s why 88% of all Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, the worst on record.

In the book, Why Liberalism Failed, Patrick J. Deneen writes that, “Liberalism has failed — not because it fell short but because it was true to itself.”

There is no “fix” to liberalism and the majority of the American people already know it, and given the opportunity, won’t vote for it – perhaps ever again.

And that’s whether anyone tells them to, or not.

Louis R. Avallone is a Shreveport businessman, attorney, and author of Bright Spots, Big Country, What Makes America Great. He is also a former aide to U.S. Representative Jim McCrery and Trump elector. Follow him on Facebook, on Twitter @louisravallone or by e-mail at louisavallone@mac.com, and on American Ground Radio weeknights from 6 – 7 PM on 101.7FM/710AM KEEL, streaming live on keelnews.com, on iTunes, and at americangroundradio.com.