I don't doubt it. However;
- If you're acknowledging that he needs to cheat then we're in agreement that he's paying a political price for the tariffs and other unpopular policies. If what he was doing was working - politically - the cheating wouldn't be necessary.
- Cheating elections isn't an on/off switch. The thing about putting your thumb on the scale is that it's a lot easier, and a lot less obvious, when the balance is mostly equal. A thumb on the scale might pass without notice. A knee on the scale tends to get attention. The more votes there are against him, the harder he has to work to cheat and the more likely he gets caught.