This country is nuts: CNN/ORC Poll: Donald Trump now competitive in general election

[cali]

Since announcing his campaign in late June, Donald Trump has quickly leapt to the top of the Republican field, leading recent polls nationally, in Iowa and in New Hampshire. And now, for the first time in CNN/ORC polling, his gains among the Republican Party have boosted him enough to be competitive in the general election.

The poll finds Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton ahead of Trump by just 6 points, a dramatic tightening since July. Trump is the one of three Republican candidates who have been matched against Clinton multiple times in CNN/ORC polling to significantly whittle the gap between himself and the Democratic frontrunner. He trailed Clinton by 16 points in a July poll, and narrowed that gap by boosting his standing among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (from 67% support in July to 79% now), men (from 46% in July to 53% now) and white voters (from 50% to 55%).

But Clinton still holds the cards overall in the race for the White House, leading four Republican contenders: She tops Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker by 6 points each among registered voters, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush by 9 points, and businesswoman Carly Fiorina by 10 points.

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And positive impressions of Clinton continue to fade. Among all adults, the new poll finds 44% hold a favorable view of her, 53% an unfavorable one, her most negative favorability rating since March 2001. A majority of women voters have a positive take on Clinton, 52% view her favorably, and her support among women appears to be the foundation for her general election advantages.

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http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/19/politics/2016-poll-hillary-clinton-joe-biden-bernie-sanders/

[onehandle]

1. Women elect Presidents. Trump vs. Clinton would be a dream come true for us.

Her coattails would sweep back Congress, despite the Gerrymandering.

[KingCharlemagne]

2. Latinos also increasingly elecct presidents, as Romney discovered to his

dismay in 2012.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/us/politics/with-tough-immigration-talk-gop-again-risks-losing-latinos.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

[Kurska]

4. If your only objective is to put a Democrat, any democrat, in the white house, yup dream.

If you want anything to change about the rotten foundation of this nation, not so much.

[Dawgs]

6. Exactly. That's why I think the 'Ready for Hillary' bumper stickers are so ridiculous.

In almost every way, Hillary would be no different than Obama. They should say 'Ready for more of the same with Hillary'.

[stevenleser]

8. Republicans will control at least one half of congress through Jan 2023, so no one elected

will be able to do much of anything.

IF you think electing Bernie would change anything, you're wrong.

[Kurska]

10. What a tremendous rallying cry for 2016

"2016, nothing will change, no matter what."

[stevenleser]

15. Reality isn't always what we want it to be, but reality is reality nonetheless. nt

[damnedifIknow]

3. I would say Americans can't be that dumb

but then I remember George Bush.

[mmonk]

5. Or it is the media working to create scenarios

in the lucrative elections season? I'm willing to bet that is it.

[stevenleser]

9. No. The media has been critical of Trump from the getgo. Not because of a plan, because of his

statements. He seems to be gathering momentum regardless.

[mmonk]

11. Granted except it seems he is probably the lead story

more than he deserves to be.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. I think what we are seeing is widespread disaffection for "the establishment".

Across the political spectrum huge numbers of people are done with the same shit served on a different type of toast.

I personally would love a Trump v Sanders election. Not only would we win and win big, but participation would be through the roof and people would for once really have distinct and fundamental policy differences across the board, not just mushy-mouthed dishonest talking points, to vote on in a presidential election.

The anointed alternative: Bush v Clinton is an election choice between two economic center right candidates who differ only on social issues, which are important of course, both of whom will support the continuation of post 9-11 neocon foreign policies, neither of whom will support progressive economic reforms such as expansion of social security and medicare.

[treestar]

12. they're using the word "tightening" already!

OMG over a year of this left.

Why do we let the election go on so long?

[CanonRay]

13. Long ago I said this country would never elect a has-been actor President

I have thought this country was nuts ever since.

[last1standing]

14. They're not nuts, they're desperate.

Too many people are experiencing real hardships while our politicians drone on about the supposed recovery. The political/wall-street oligarchy is completely out of touch with what is happening on the streets and the cracks that started showing with the teabaggers in 2008 (and successfully co-opted by the republican establishment) and Occupy a few years later, are going mainstream.

I think that leads in two populist directions. The ignorant among us will gravitate toward Trump, while those who understand how the world actually works, will move in Sanders direction. The motivations are the same, but the understanding is different.

I do believe that Trump will win the repub nomination as he's playing right to this desperate, ignorant base that has voted repub for the last 40 years. if Sanders can somehow win the primary, I think he will go on to win the general election as any minority listening to Trump's, or any repub's, message of persecution would have to at least listen to Bernie's platform. Once that happens, I don't see how they could decide not to vote for him despite the dreaded "socialism" label.

People keep talking about a revolution, but I think we're actually in the middle of it right now. Politicians like Hillary and Jeb might be able to somehow hold on to power this round, but the genie is out of the bottle. People want real, systemic change and are being offered the same old failed policies in shiny new containers. It got Obama elected in 2008, but it won't work forever.

[restorefreedom]

16. sanders v trump?

now that would be a fascinating debate.

[LannyDeVaney]

17. Clinton would win this matchup in a landslide ...

bigger victory than Pres. Obama in 2012.

The Republicans will NOT let Trump get the nomination. No.Matter.What. The GE would be a blood bath.

They would sooner pay off somebody to take him out than let him get the nomination. However, it won't come to that. I feel that once folks start dropping out of the race the *other* candidates will pick up those votes, not Trump.

Note: Contrary to my opinion, I noticed Rachel Maddow referenced a poll last night that showed folks for whom Trump is not their first choice, list him as their second choice. Still, no way he gets the nomination.

[mmonk]

18. I agree with your assessment.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Could be that it's high tide for Trump right now low tide for Clinton

Clinton has been taking a real beating in the media of late over those e-mails. Meanwhile Trump is the latest shiny new toy of the psycho hillbillies and hasn't been fully vetted yet for all his extreme liberal positions over the years. I'm thinking this close ranking isn't going to last, even if Trump continues to get support from the GOP base.

[WillyT]

20. K & R !!!