It worked 6 years ago and there are clearly enough suckers out there that it could work again next year.
All they have to do is create enough apathy, mistrust and hate toward the DNC to convince a small slice of people into voting for them. Siphon off a few votes to the Greens. Siphon off a few more votes to JFK Jr. Siphon off a few more votes to those who will simply stay home on elections day.
Well this time the Right has both the Greens and JFK Jr to take votes away. It's infuriating that it is so obvious and yet people will still fall for it.