Are elections ultimately about either optimism or pessimism?

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I've heard a political commentator highlighting the contrast between the two conventions, and it was this binary difference... a two-party state is binary by nature, but while one side seems to be hopeful (which can still be unrealistic, although the past eight years - improved employment-to-population ratio, stronger economy which an increased Fed fund rate is indicative of - can be used as evidence), the other side, resorting to fascism (although Republicanism is supposed to be for the people (etymologically), not one person...), has put its 'hopes' in fear, the RNC being a mixture between a reality show and a tale of absolute darkness gripping the whole universe (wait until they hear of the Big Crunch)...

Now, of course, ultimately people either give in to their personal circumstances (which colour perspective regardless of any objectivity) - the whole country isn't the individual, so despite the strong economy people may discard evidence and simply move along with their amygdala, in neuroscientific terms... or, of course, beyond the hardcore Republican base, people actually care at all about facts... there are currently so many conspiracy theories flying around they could comfortably be made into a fictional bible, but in the end I'm not sure how many people believe in Xenu (despite its creator literally being a sci-fi author), besides those totally brainwashed by that supposed non-profit... ultimately, there are extremes with everything, but the fascist candidate this year surely collects all these extreme positions and conspiracy theories into one handy basket... but 70% of evangelical Christians believed that living organisms have not changed since their creation apparently, so perhaps the Age of (illiterate) Conspir(ion) is dawning...

Well, regardless of the above rambling, could it really be such a simple dichotomy?

They are about fear. This is hardly new.

This particular election IS about fear. Thats for sure. More about fear than any election I can remember since I started being aware of elections as a child in the Sixties.

The dichotomy in this election is "fear of our enemies" vs "fear of the guy who promises to deliver us from these enemies".

Historically in America neither party ever admits to being pessimistic. Reagan framed things in upbeat terms (standing tall), and Obama became the "Reagan of the left" who also frames things in upbeat terms (the audacity of hope) even though the two preached opposite policies.

A candidate like Trump who tries to get us all to soil our points by talking about how your city is being engulfed in crime, and about how Mexico is sending us all of its rapists etc is a bit unusual. Though you could find a "law and order" type campaign like that if you go back to 1968 when George Wallace ran for president. But the segregationist Alabama governor was a third party candidate running against both the Democrats and the Republicans, and he only got 14 percent of the vote.Not really a mainstream candidate.

Nixon co opted George Wallace's law and order message as did many republicans in the 70's. Reagan had the evil empire, and republicans have always claimed if you elect a democrat you are electing the next Chamberlin appeaser and our enemy will walk all over us. The democrats have always promoted fear the Republicans are going to take your Social Security and other benifits away. Hillary's alt right speech is not new back in the '90's it was a vast right wing conspiracy.

It is not limited to politics most marketing is based on fear of not getting laid for varoius reasons.

In past elections the fears bieng played upon were of unrealistic or worst case scenarios occurring. In this election because of the "quality" of the candidates occuring at a time of change and stress and ongoing terrorism on US soil very bad outcomes are likely.