The Trump Appeal: Broader Than They Say

Could independent voters hand Trump a general election win?

by Edmund Kozak

Don’t let GOP Establishment naysayers fool you — Donald Trump is positioned to win a general election with the help of working class and independent voters attracted to his economic message.

While Sen. Lindsey Graham may liken nominating Trump to being “on the team that bought a ticket on the Titanic after we saw the movie,” polling suggests Trump has wider appeal than the Establishment cares to admit.

At the core of Trump’s support has been largely less-educated, low-income white voters, the average blue-collar Americans who have been aligning less and less with the Democratic Party.

It might be tempting to ask if Trump can pull white, less-educated voters who lean Democrat to the Republican Party like Ronald Reagan did in 1980, but research actually shows that since 1980 that demographic has already distanced itself from the Democratic Party, aligning itself more with Republicans.

What’s more, since 1980 there has been a 9.5 percent decrease in the amount of white voters with no college education who identify as Democrats, according to a Washington Post report.

Since 1980, this demographic swung more to the Republican party with the exception of 1992, 1996, 2008, and 2012. Some Democratic strategists suggest that they fear a Trump nomination because of his ability to bring these voters back to the GOP -- something Romney wasn't able to do in 2012.

Indeed, Romney lost among voters making less than $50,000, which make up roughly half of American households according to U.S. census data, a demographic that Trump is currently winning. Additionally, Romney wasn't able to churn out enthusiasm the way Trump has — with only 32 percent of Republicans voting in the general election.

The high turnout and record-shattering numbers Trump has brought to the Republican primary contests, however, mirror the enthusiasm Obama’s candidacy created among Democrats in 2008. It’s possible this same enthusiasm could carry over to a general election.

Another untapped resource in American electorate poised to give Trump a significant advantage in a general election is "new" voters — including voters who are considered "lost," meaning they have not voted in years due feeling left out by the two political parties.

This demographic tends to be more politically apathetic, but this year they have found a champion in Trump and are turning out to vote.

Then there’s the independent voters. So far in the Republican primaries and caucuses independents have strongly pulled for Trump, who has garnered between 20 and 50 percent among them.

Looking ahead to the general election, a CNN/ORC poll conducted at the end of February revealed a close match-up between Clinton and Trump in a general election among independent voters, with 48 percent support for Clinton compared to 44 percent for Trump.

But given the poll’s margin of error of the poll was 5.5 percent, it’s not a stretch to infer that independent voters are effectively split between Clinton and Trump. What’s more, the CNN/ORC survey asked voters to choose which of the remaining candidates, regardless of party affiliation, they trust most to handle seven key issues.

Trump dominates the list, specifically on the economy, with 38 percent to Clinton’s 25 percent. When broken down further, Trump leads on the economy specifically among independents 39 percent to Clinton’s 18 percent. But he also leads Clinton as well on the issues of terrorism and immigration, while Clinton trumps him when it comes to health care, foreign policy, and race relations.

Who Do You Trust Most on Economy

All voters

Donald Trump 38%
Hillary Clinton 25%

Independent voters

Donald Trump 39%
Hillary Clinton 18%

Source: CNN/ORC Survey 2/24 - 2/27

This bodes well for Trump, as the economy remains the number one concern among voters across party lines, with close to half saying it is the deciding factor when voting for a president. Independent voters are a wild card in this election but for now they seem to be in Trump's camp.

The secret of Trump's success is not xenophobia, or racism, or bigotry, or a silent majority with a fetish for large walls, but everyday Americans who feel betrayed by the Establishment and find Trump's America-first attitude when it comes to trade and jobs incredibly appealing.

It's the economy, stupid.

http://www.lifezette.com/polizette/the-trump-appeal-broader-than-they-say/

guess we won't truly know until November!

"The secret of Trump's success is not xenophobia, or racism, or bigotry, or a silent majority with a fetish for large walls, but everyday Americans who feel betrayed by the Establishment and find Trump's America-first attitude when it comes to trade and jobs incredibly appealing."

by Edmund Kozak


Right on target !
People that remained silent.... Aren't anymore

And everyone that is panicking over Trump, just realized that silence does not mean... 'I agree with you'

Hhhaaa.. Look out

the Left here in Europe is already crapping all over itself at the Thought of possibly having to deal with a Trump-Presidency!

I can see it now. " Merkel are you deaf? I said NO ! "

well,, if Edmund kozak says so,,,lol



according to a U of mass national poll, however, its not merely 'everyday' americans who find him so appealing



Authoritarianism is not a new, untested concept in the American electorate. Since the rise of Nazi Germany, it has been one of the most widely studied ideas in social science. While its causes are still debated, the political behavior of authoritarians is not. Authoritarians obey. They rally to and follow strong leaders. And they respond aggressively to outsiders, especially when they feel threatened. From pledging to “make America great again” by building a wall on the border to promising to close mosques and ban Muslims from visiting the United States, Trump is playing directly to authoritarian inclinations.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/donald-trump-2016-authoritarian-213533#ixzz42i8DqnZg
Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook


sounds more on point,, from observing the comments of trump supporters in these threads and the ones in media(which I Realize are more handpicked for the sensational effects)

From pledging to “make America great again” by building a wall on the border to promising to close mosques and ban Muslims from visiting the United States, Trump is playing directly to TRUE AMERICANS



Fixed it for ya

yes,, authoritarians would believe they are the 'true Americans'

don't like hitler?


pick any dictator in history...the authoritarian analogy still stands

You could be right.
Look at the gay, black Kenyan , muslim , marxist , who adopted those two poor Moroccan girls with a transvestite... we have now, hanging out with Jay Z

yes, the emotionally mature bunch are also large trump supporters,,,




not

Gal,you're slipping!

yes,, slipping into hysterical laughter at the absolute juvenile attempts to avoid logical debate or response to an argument


did a group get together and declare the 'spinning top' their metaphorical ad hominem response?

Trump warns of 'mass unrest' if doesn't get Republican Nomination

http://youtu.be/nlfHanvaZWg/
02:22 RT News

TRUMP INSIDER ROGER STONE REACTS TO LIBERTARIANS JUMPING TO TRUMP

http://youtu.be/iZXVBxddJZo//
03:39 NextNewsNetwork

Yup...Trump has caused quite a stir...it's sad how the election is just a rock throwing competition ...I kinda think people are drawn to his theatrics because he really is stirring the pot...kinda reminds me of pink floyd the wall...it's so sad that this beautiful country has reduced itself to this nonsense...oh well...at least it's entertaining ...figure I will wait until the last few months before the election and see who's going to be the last two standing before I even consider voting...I just hope one of these runners could be a good president...

In stead of "Good President", how about a Wanted President that will focus on America and not the world at this point? To me, that would be a Great President. Over the last 30 years, we have had good President's and at least 2 bad, terrible, President's, which one of them we still have sitting right now.
I want someone from the outside to be in charge of our nation. Over the years, Washington has shown nothing, and no interest in our nation, much less our own people. I personally feel Donald Trump should have the opportunity to be our Commander in Chief, show Washington how we can all prosper, and not just Washington, which is going on now. Piss off Washington, I hope he does, give them a huge dose of their on medicine for a change. Trump 2016.......

maybe that's the best rating it deserves!

or maybe children just don't know how to communicate with the grownups ,,,,and prefer playing with their toys as a distraction