20% like Candidate 1 and vote that way.
Another 20% like Candidate 2 and vote that way.
The remaining 60% hate both Candidates 1 and 2, but hate one more than the other, so they vote for the least hated candidate.
After inauguration, we have a president with which only 20% of the country are "true believers" in that president.
I believe this is the case with Trump, for example. I could be wrong, of course. People do seem to show up at his rallies. But I know many people who voted for Trump who merely held their nose in the voting booth, and would never attend a rally....and I know no one who attended a rally. So, I tend to think that there are actually few "Trumpos" or whatever out there. And yet, people on this board act like everyone who voted for Trump is a true believer. It makes hating the other side a little easier, I admit.