Republican Realist? Who will beat Clinton?

[Tassman]

Although I still can't decide the extent to which I think Trump is deliberately trolling the Republican party.

I would be totally unsurprised if it came to light that he supports the Democrats and that his sneaky plan is to use his crazy TV persona to gain a sizable Republican following and then switch to 3rd-party in order to deliberately sabotage the election in favor of the Democrats.

...although I would be even less surprised to find out that he's just a crazy egotistical megalomaniac who's in it because he's addicted to fame and the sound of his own name.

What’s interesting from my distance is that the Conservative electorate is so utterly disenchanted with its current crop of politicians that they’re prepared to vote for any alternative…even a buffoon like Trump.

[Bill the Cat]

A CNN poll released yesterday shows Trump is still firmly in first place among Republicans. It also showed that the only candidates that have more approval than disapproval among the American public are Ben Carson and Bernie Sanders

Most interestingly they polled match-ups of Clinton and Sanders against Trump, Bush, and Walker, and both Democratic candidates beat all three Republican candidates in all six individuals match-ups. The biggest blow-out was Sanders vs Trump, with Sanders winning by 58% of the vote to 38% for Trump. So not only does the Republican field appear to have no one who can beat Hillary, it equally appears to have no one who can beat Sanders.

Um, no. Sanders is 1% behind Bush, although it is within the margin of error:

http://www.270towin.com/2016-polls/2...tion-matchups/

poll.JPG

[Starlight]

Um, no. Sanders is 1% behind Bush, although it is within the margin of error:

The original poll data gives two sets of numbers (on page 19), the first is for "All Americans" and the second is limited to "Registered Voters". One of those has Sanders ahead of Bush by 1%, and the other has Bush ahead by 1%. News sources vary as to which one they've reported.

It is a bit interesting that according to that poll, Bush seems to have a better chance against Sanders than against Hillary, whereas Trump has a worse chance against Sanders than Hillary... although probably that is reading too much into it as it's pretty much all within the margin of error anyway.

[Bill the Cat]

The original poll data gives two sets of numbers (on page 19), the first is for "All Americans" and the second is limited to "Registered Voters". One of those has Sanders ahead of Bush by 1%, and the other has Bush ahead by 1%. News sources vary as to which one they've reported.

It is a bit interesting that according to that poll, Bush seems to have a better chance against Sanders than against Hillary, whereas Trump has a worse chance against Sanders than Hillary... although probably that is reading too much into it as it's pretty much all within the margin of error anyway.

That's why I take these polls with a large grain of salt, especially this early in the game.

[Cow Poke]

Although I still can't decide the extent to which I think Trump is deliberately trolling the Republican party.

I would be totally unsurprised if it came to light that he supports the Democrats and that his sneaky plan is to use his crazy TV persona to gain a sizable Republican following and then switch to 3rd-party in order to deliberately sabotage the election in favor of the Democrats.

...although I would be even less surprised to find out that he's just a crazy egotistical megalomaniac who's in it because he's addicted to fame and the sound of his own name.

I think you're overthinking this....

A) Trump loves the spotlight and "being in charge"
2) Americans in general are sick and tired of politics as usual, and Trump is certainly not usual

Did you look at the numbers of how many would actually vote for Trump?

[rogue06]

I think you're overthinking this....

A) Trump loves the spotlight and "being in charge"
2) Americans in general are sick and tired of politics as usual, and Trump is certainly not usual

Did you look at the numbers of how many would actually vote for Trump?

I think a lot of people just find his style refreshing and honest (whether or not he is being honest about his views is another matter entirely).

[Cow Poke]

I think a lot of people just find his style refreshing and honest (whether or not he is being honest about his views is another matter entirely).

Yup - I do! But I'm not going to vote for him. and I wonder how many people, in disdain for the current crop of "politics as usual" candidates, would tell the pollster "Trump" just to express their contempt.

[Starlight]

I have to say,• Edited by a Moderator • sums up almost every single problem I have with Hillary in one 5-minute segment. From her not answering a basic yes-no question on a basic issue, to every point he makes, that's why Hillary would make a terrible president and why liberals and progressives are just not excited in the least by Hillary.

[Cow Poke]

Hillary can just sound so "witchy" when she's trying to sound tough.