Voters’ View of a Donald Trump Presidency: Big Risks and Rewards

[andym]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/16/us/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-poll.html?_r=0

PATRICK HEALY and DALIA SUSSMAN SEPT. 15, 2016

"Most voters consider Donald J. Trump a risky choice for president, saying he lacks the right temperament and values, but he is seen as more transformative and better at handling the economy than Hillary Clinton, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

Mrs. Clinton, despite being as disliked as Mr. Trump, is seen as a safer option. Majorities of voters say she has the temperament for the job and would better handle foreign policy. Only 36 percent of them, however, view her as an agent of change. That perception deeply worries some Clinton campaign advisers, who want the race to hinge on Mr. Trump’s character rather than voters’ desire to upend the status quo." ....
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The rewards voters imagine for Trump are fool's gold, but that never stopped the American voter. The tendency to think there is little upside to Hillary Clinton ("rewards&quot is a big problem. When Democrats win it is usually because people believe they bring a large upside: Clinton and the "economy, stupid" and Obama and the potential of "hope and change." The strongest example of a dangerous candidate whose upside won out was Reagan-- he had attacked SS and Medicare, claimed trees were a major source of pollution, but no matter he won in a landslide by promising an economic miracle and optimism.

Hillary Clinton is running on her competence and steadiness-- just like Al Gore and Mike Dukakis. She really needs more, especially with how well she has been painted by the GOP. What is her strongest campaign theme? A better question is what is her overarching campaign theme, besides not being the horrible Donald Trump?

[Proud liberal 80]

1. Isn't always liked this

When things are going good, the electorate wants to hand the keys over to a republican rather than a responsible competent Democrat. Only to run back to a Democrat when things go to hell

[jaysunb]

2. +1 n/t

[anamandujano]

3. All the news that's sh*t to print

Fukoff NY Times.

Hillary is not as disliked as Trump. The electorate knows we have horrendous problems that need an intelligent hard working person to fix. Trump is rancid cotton candy.

[murielm99]

4. True.

I phone banked Tuesday night. There was not a single doubt in anyone's mind about showing up to vote for Hillary. I heard some sad stories about employment problems and financial problems, but no one was looking to Trump to fix things.

The last time I phone banked was for Governor Quinn's reelection. I could tell there would be problems. People, including solid Democrats, were not that sure about him. He lost by a narrow margin. We ended up with a tea bagging SOB in the governor's mansion.

The next thing I need to do is go register voters at the community college, and get the kids out to work and to vote. I have another person lined up to do that with me.

Things are scary, and we can't stop working. But we can do this.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

5. K&R Here is the biggest risk. And it's real: