> In a nation of 300 something million, close enough to half want either candidate.

Neither of the major candidates ever has support from anything close to half of the 300-something-million population; of the total 324.5 million population, the 2016 election was like 20.03% to 19.26%.

Even of the eligible-to-vote population, the vote for the two major party candidates was about 26.84% to 25.68%.