Nobody Owns Him: Trump to Start Fundraising Blitz, From, You Know, the Donor Class, As Soon as He Locks Up the Nomination

He already raised 7 million; 18 million was a personal loan from himself to his campaign.

But note-- that 18 million isn't his own money. Because, obviously, he can fund-raise and then have the campaign pay him back that loan.

So in what sense is Trump self-funding?

In no sense at all.

But that doesn't matter (even though it's often touted as a reason to vote for him).

Also in the not-mattering category is the fact that he loses to Clinton 50-41, and loses on most attribute ratings to her as well -- including on trustworthiness.

And no, immigration won't save him, as his position is unpopular. (Popular with me, but not with the country at large.)

In one basic gauge, just 30 percent of Americans express a favorable opinion of Trump, while 67 percent see him unfavorably, up 8 points since November and near the peak, 71 percent last spring. Many, 56 percent, see him “strongly” unfavorably, a new high. Both of these reflect remarkable levels of unpopularity for a major domestic political figure.

Clinton, by contrast, is seen unfavorably by 52 percent and strongly so by 41 percent, each 15 points less than Trump’s ratings in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates. (Forty-six percent see Clinton favorably. Ted Cruz’s score is 35-51 percent and Marco Rubio’s 39-45 percent, favorable-unfavorable.)

Among key attributes, while just 37 percent of Americans see Clinton as honest and trustworthy, that goes even lower for Trump, to 27 percent.

...

Trump's challenged, as well, by the fact that Americans by 63-33 percent oppose his suggestion to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country, and by 61-36 percent disagree with the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

On that last point: Well, how to you contend for a position in the face of high unfavorability? Well, you recognize it's unpopular, and you construct the most persuasive argument possible to move people from opposing your plan -- from thinking it's "mean" to poor immigrants -- to supporting your plan -- to understanding that unchecked immigration, especially of illegal low-skilled immigrants, is "mean" to American working citizens.

But you do have to recognize that, and think about how you intend to move opinion.

Or, you could just blurt out something about a lot of Mexicans being rapists and make the issue pretty toxic for anyone to do much persuading on it.

It's like two sides of the same coin: A lot of establishment people say they've never met a single Trump voter, but meanwhile, a lot of people in the country will swear these polls must be wrong because they've never encountered someone in their own lives who actually thinks any differently on immigration.

And yet... both are wrong. Both sorts of people do exist.

posted by Ace at 01:27 PM

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