Posted on 12/12/2015 7:37:38 AM PST by mandaladon
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans don't have much affection for Donald Trump. Even Republicans tend to think he's not so likable.
But he's running for president, not for Mr. Congeniality.
Trump is overwhelmingly viewed by Republican voters as decisive and competent. And that's what mattered most to Republicans surveyed in a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
Nearly 6 in 10 Americans had an unfavorable view of the Republican presidential front-runner. That's the worst rating of any candidate in either party, a reminder that decisiveness alone might not be enough for Trump to prevail in the 2016 election if he becomes the GOP nominee.
The poll was taken before Trump called for a ban on Muslims coming into the United States and does not reflect reactions to that statement.
Among Republican registered voters, nearly 6 in 10 offered a favorable opinion of Trump. But just 31 percent said he is at least somewhat compassionate. Only 43 percent found him at least somewhat likable.
Yet 8 in 10 Republican voters, and 55 percent of all Americans, called Trump very or somewhat decisive. In short, he is seen as the most decisive candidate of either party — both by Republicans and by Americans at large.
"I wouldn't give him a 10 on the compassionate scale," said poll respondent Lisa Barker, 55, of Worcester, Massachusetts, an unaffiliated voter who says she's all in for Trump. "I'd probably put him in the middle. But I love the fact that he's decisive."
After rocketing to the front of the Republican pack in the race for president, Trump has stayed there for months with a brash approach that has captivated a healthy slice of the GOP electorate.
ficantly more than said so of any other GOP candidate.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
the 60 percent unfavorable means a lot less than one thinks.
hillary’s is off the charts, and she’s walking away with the primary.
i know a bunch of people who have an unfavorable view of Trump, but are voting for him.
He doesn’t have to be loved. Just win.
Islam has declared war on America, and the rest of the world for that matter, and the dumbass Kenyan is worried about the ‘RATS’ climate change hoax and scam and their gun confiscation scheme. Forget the ISIS Islamoterrorists, dumbass wants to disarm American gun owners. Whoever came up with the dumbass idea to make this bozo president needs an good asswhoopin’.
I don’t know how many times it has been said, but people want someone they trust will say what they mean, even if they disagree with them.
If you know where a person stands, they instantly have your trust more than someone who just says what you want to hear. If someone doesn’t care if you disagree with them, it gives you trust that they have authority over their own opinions. If someone starts from a position of strength, it means you can negotiate in good faith.
These are all aspects of leadership.
I don’t agree with Trump on some things, I don’t think he is the most capable to do what is needed, but I don’t doubt for a second that he can do the job and he will do what he feels is best for America. And there is no doubt in my mind that he loves this country.
I completely understand why he has a large base of support.
there’s a story on FBN about the trump touting a third party run ... didn’t watch.
Really? Do 95% of the people "of this country, that belong to this country, that were born and raised in this country" really oppose private property rights and support outrageous Supreme Court decisions like Kelo v. New London Connecticut? Oppose Federalism and separation of powers? Support "universal healthcare" ("the government will pay for it!") and have praise for single-payer healthcare systems? Support the Obama stimulus (aka "porkulus")? Support TARP? Support more big government programs? Support Obama's Syria strategy and criticize Cruz, Rubio, and Paul for opposing it in Senate and claim they 'share responsibility' for the problems there? Support the notion that Israel must 'sacrifice' to make peace? Support ridiculing conservatives that they are just going to have to "get used to it!" when it comes to his liberal policies? Etc...
Trump's "unfavorables" are 100% different than any other politicians, including Hillary. For other people, those mean something.
But Trump is still viewed by many people as a TV reality show star. The example I use is WWF: Remember the "Undertaker?" People "hated" him. They booed, he was terribly "unpopular." Then, when the match was over, he'd have an autograph line a mile long, sell "Undertaker" toys. He was "unfavorable" in a movie villain way.
Think of any tv or movie "villain." Anthony Hopkins in "Silence of the Lambs." People "hated" him---but they just hated the character, and loved him AS that character. I think no one else is really getting this distinction with Trump's "unfavorables" which is why his poll numbers don't reflect that.
That's his way of telling the GOP establishment (including Jeb) to forget about ignoring the will of the voters by ramming an establishment candidate down their throats.
What do you think about that?
could he win?
is it right/wrong/neither for him to do if it he does?
I dont know.
good analysis.
hillary’s dont matter because there’s no one real to challenge her and the press is in the bag.
they will ruin her in the generals.
I can’t say i LIKE Trump. Dont hate him. Will vote for him.
As a third party - assuming that he could even get on the ballot in all states now - no. But Hillary would.
People, including myself, have long thought he is Hilary’s stalking horse, like Perot was for Bill.
Trump has an air of invincibility currently. However if he were to lose Iowa that meme and his bombast look hollow.
Trump knows this and is why he dropped hid Muslim bombshell the afternoon a single poll showed him behind Cruz, he is a great tactician IMO. Note how this am he walked back his attavk on Cruz. He saw and understood the backlash from MLevine and others to his attack.
Attacking Cruz’s faith will hurt him in Iowa major tactical error. Cruz has been endorsed by the major evangelical players in Iowa. Many of them know Raefael Cruz. Under the radar the attack on Cruz’s faith will be mentioned from the pulpit to churchgoers in Iowa.
This mistake may cost Trump big time in Iowa.
i disagree, but at 47, i’ve learned not to rule out anything.
Seriously you cannot NOT know to what this guy was referring when he said “95% agree with Trump”
You brought up-” (people)really oppose private property rights and support outrageous Supreme Court decisions like Kelo v. New London Connecticut? Oppose Federalism and separation of powers?”
Not one in 100 voters would even know what the hell any of this means let alone allow it to sway their vote.
The voting issues are Terrorism, security, the economy......PERIOD!!!
Moreover, I don't buy the notion of this "holy" voting base in IA. Iowa has routinely turned out jerk pols, like Grassley and Harkin. But even if Trump were to "lose" IA (impossible, given that it's a proportional caucus state) he'd still win delegates that Cruz can't get elsewhere.
Cruz isn't even on the radar in NC or GA or FL or NH. He's second or third, but distantly so I think, in SC and NV. In short, no. The "invincibility" is there because it's there, not because it's perceived to be there.
What this criticism of Cruz shows me is that when it comes to a general, there will be NOTHING off limits with Hillary. Trump goes after the competitor, no matter who.
Youngster ... there is no statistical way the Trump as a 3rd party candidate can win - Hillary starts with 47% or so of the electorate - do you imaging Trump’s 3rd party putative 15% of the electorate is somehow going to win?
Don’t be so blind as not to count the past - Clinton, Bush, Perot Presidential race during the 1992 Presidential election. Absent Perot, Bush I would have won, and most of the US mil secrets would still be secret and China would not have accurate ICBMs, quiet subs, advanced radar, or the klystron switch for thermonuclear weapons. Third party runs are just spoilers for one party against another and never win.
If you support Trump and he goes 3rd party - run - you’ve been had.
“The poll was taken before Trump called for a ban on Muslims coming into the United States and does not reflect reactions to that statement.” and before this 6 in 10 GOPers already had favorable view of Trump.
FAct is Trump reacted like a scalded dog when 1 poll showed him behind.
Neither you nor I know what happens to all these polls IF Trump loses in Iowa. All your assumptions rest on polls which can change a lot. Cruz has the organization and $$$$ to be there if Trump falters. Huck and Santorum didn’t have the org & $$$to capitalize on their Iowa victories, Cruz does.
Trump knows this hence the ballistic reaction when Cruz went ahead in 1 measly poll. The debate will give Cruz more airtime this week due to his rise in the polls and the media perception of an opportunity for a cat fight between Trump and Cruz.
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