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Will ‘Electability’ Sink Trump?
Roll Call ^ | Jan. 3, 2016 | Stuart Rothenberg

Posted on 01/03/2016 8:53:05 PM PST by justlittleoleme

Most national polls show Republican frontrunner Donald Trump trailing likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and faring worse than other GOP hopefuls against her.

That raises an obvious question: Could doubts about Trump's strength in a general election derail his bid for the Republican nomination, or would GOP caucus attendees and primary voters simply ignore poll numbers that suggest Trump would be a risky bet in November?

SNIP

But Quinnipiac University's Dec. 16-20 survey showed Trump's image with all registered voters at 33 percent favorable/59 percent unfavorable - dismal numbers, and the highest unfavorable rating of any GOP hopeful.

Trump trailed Clinton by 11 points, 49 percent to 38 percent, in the mid-December Fox News ballot test, while Cruz and Clinton were tied at 45 percent and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio held a 45 percent to 43 percent lead over Clinton. The Quinnipiac poll found Trump trailing Clinton 47 percent to 40 percent, while Cruz and Clinton were tied at 44 percent and Rubio trailed Clinton by a single point, 44 percent to 43 percent.

But not every survey showed Trump trailing Clinton so dramatically in hypothetical match ups. For example, a Dec. 17-21 CNN/ORC survey showed the two candidates separated by only two points (Clinton 49 percent, Trump 47 percent). Of course, Cruz held a 2-point lead over Clinton and Rubio a 3-point lead in that survey, seemingly confirming that Trump is a weaker nominee against Clinton than at least two other Republican hopefuls.

But even if additional surveys between now and the Iowa caucuses show Trump's relative weakness in the general election, it is not yet clear that GOP voters - and Trump voters - will care. Opinion about the importance of "electability" as an issue for voters has been divided over the years.

(Excerpt) Read more at 3.blogs.rollcall.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cruzisright; election; elections; ezsleazylawyerted; immigration; nocharismated; stalewhitebreadted; trump; trumpaintright; trumpwasright; trusted
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To: justlittleoleme

None of the GOP candidates is “electable” unless the script of the race is changed from 2012. Hillary will re-run Obama’s 2012 strategy on an eligible electorate which is 1.5% or so less white and 3.75 years or so younger and 2% less unemployed than the 2012 eligible electorate, with at least as many low information women and “moderate” white voters coming in to her to replace the black voters who stay home because they don’t have their hometown team in the finals. Figure 54-46 win without breaking a sweat.

So — it’s script change or nothing. Playing by their rules is certain defeat.


21 posted on 01/03/2016 9:12:59 PM PST by only1percent
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To: editor-surveyor

Yeah and all those crowds just turn up to be entertained.

I’ll allow for that but Trump has a serious message.

And he’s not leading simply because of bombast and saying things people want to hear.

No other GOP candidate has his star power and broad appeal. Period.


22 posted on 01/03/2016 9:13:08 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: DannyTN

.
If Trump could “pull the GOP base,” he would have far more support, considering how favorably the MSM treat him.

He cannot.

Trump is hardly more electable than Bush.


23 posted on 01/03/2016 9:13:09 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

Go, Trump, go! Simple, straight forward and to the point.

The simple plan: We win, they lose.


24 posted on 01/03/2016 9:13:56 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to to God!)
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To: editor-surveyor

My but we’ve missed your endless condescension.


25 posted on 01/03/2016 9:14:23 PM PST by datura (Proud Infidel)
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To: goldstategop

.
Wake up.

“Those crowds” are bused in by labor unions.

Labor union support in a GOP primary says he is dead to the GOP base.

Trump is a MSM phenomenon.


26 posted on 01/03/2016 9:16:00 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: DannyTN

No matter how hard they try, Trump seems to prove them wrong everytime.


27 posted on 01/03/2016 9:16:15 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to to God!)
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To: only1percent

Blacks, liberal single women, Latinos and college educated whites will vote en masse for Hillary.

She’s got the most populous states in the country locked up even before the general election.

In 2016, Florida and Ohio will be the Ground Zero.

It does not look good and we have 11 months to go.


28 posted on 01/03/2016 9:16:19 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Theo

Too many Republicans trust polls too much which shape their thinking


29 posted on 01/03/2016 9:16:57 PM PST by 4rcane
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To: DannyTN

It’s almost like he’s fighting with a whole new set of rules, and he’s making them up as he goes.


30 posted on 01/03/2016 9:18:10 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to to God!)
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To: datura

.
Get your head out of that hole and you won’t miss anything.


31 posted on 01/03/2016 9:18:17 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

You must live in a bubble with only a mirror to talk to. People are actually EXCITED about voting for Trump. That’s who is attending his rallies.

I’ll be glad to read your opus here after President Trump is inaugurated.


32 posted on 01/03/2016 9:19:04 PM PST by datura (Proud Infidel)
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To: justlittleoleme

OK, two reporters who in all probability will vote the “D” line, regardless of who is running on the “R” line, are telling us, who will lose against Hillary? LOL, Run Hillary Run! The poll I’d be most interest is Hillary’s internal one.


33 posted on 01/03/2016 9:24:29 PM PST by Bringbackthedraft
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To: goldstategop

.
It looks beautiful.

Cruz creams every Democrat in everyone’s polls.

Don’t look up now, but we are winning this election.


34 posted on 01/03/2016 9:24:59 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Jim Robinson

Trump has thought through the most critical issues and he believes in what he is doing. He is running from a set of core values combined with a set of well honed competencies.

That gives him an incredible confidence. Trump is 200% into this race and he is not giving ground and he’s taking no prisoners.


35 posted on 01/03/2016 9:26:47 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: justlittleoleme

Same old crap from the GOPe and the dim’s. Not Electable, Not Electible! They screamed the same thing about Regan. We came for them then and we are coming for them now! Get ready GOPe we are throwing the bums out!!


36 posted on 01/03/2016 9:31:33 PM PST by Nuc 1.1 (Nuc 1 Liberals aren't Patriots. Remember 1789!)
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To: Jim Robinson
Yup. Bush will flatten Hillary. But, of course, Trump towers over him.

No one is talking about Bush. Clearly we are talking about Cruz, and if polls are to believed then Cruz has less negatives and a broader appeal with the general electorate than Trump. Trump may have fervent energized supporters but they comprise a narrower band of voters.
37 posted on 01/03/2016 9:31:48 PM PST by kik5150
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To: justlittleoleme

He’s a captain of industry. Of course he has a personality and is electable.


38 posted on 01/03/2016 9:32:35 PM PST by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: justlittleoleme
Just keep seeing people make the point that we should vote for Trump instead of Cruz because Trump is more electable..... the recent Poll data is not echoing those statements.

Yep, and Trump constantly touts his standing in polls.

But, according to some of his supporters, polls don't matter...

39 posted on 01/03/2016 9:35:10 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: DannyTN
He is running from a set of core values

Are these new core values? Or just different positions based on the same core values?

40 posted on 01/03/2016 9:36:48 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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