Those who care about the issue wouldn't support him anyway, and it helps make those in the middle think that those to the right are kooks. Plus, it helps boost a potential spoiler in the next Presidential election.
I thought about that contingency as well. But it certainly is a risky strategy. If one ‘respected’ journalist were to be convinced that it is a fraud, then the thing could careen out of control quite rapidly.
If I were the guy in the White House and I had no honesty but had an actual valid certificate on file, I would release a version that had some anomalies, just to keep the controversy going. Those who care about the issue wouldn't support him anyway, and it helps make those in the middle think that those to the right are kooks. Plus, it helps boost a potential spoiler in the next Presidential election.
I thought the same thing. And if that's the case, then it's a case of forging an official document, and in my opinion, would be an impeachable offense.