Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
From Mike Allen's Morning Call in Politico:
2012 TALKER - TRUMP IN SECOND? Nearly a fifth of Republican presidential primary voters say they want a real estate developer-turned-reality TV star to be their nominee for president. In an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Donald Trump ties former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee for second place in the GOP primary, with 17 percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is in first, with 21 percent. The Journal has more: "Mr. Trump 'may be a punch line but when he talks about the way to solve our problems, he makes a lot of sense to the average guy out there,' said Todd Mauney, a conservative Republican in Weatherford, Texas ... In a narrower field of five candidates, excluding Mr. Trump but including Messrs. Gingrich, Pawlenty and Barbour and Ms. Bachmann, Mr. Romney comes out with a comfortable 20-point lead, 40% to Mr. Gingrich's second-place 20%." http://on.wsj.com/id3Y3m
And Jim Pethokoukis reports that, according to the Intrade betting market, Trump has a better chance at the GOP 2012 nod than Barbour, Huck, Palin, Huntsman, Newt.
No one in this field, including Trump, scares me as much as Huckabee. But what does this WSJ poll really show? Isn't it mostly about name recognition at this point? Or does it show that the GOP could desperately use some additional candidates in the ring?
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Aug '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
You must see the NBC interview he did with Meredith Viera this morning.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42469716#42469716
Only Trump seems able to speak about the ugly realities we're facing, and the stupidity that brought us to this point.
Edited on Apr 7, 2011 at 9:34amRe: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
This Trump thing is fascinating. It's about more than name recognition. My gut says it's about loving his motivational speeches about success. This is a very off-hand, unformed first reaction, but I think that's what people are reacting to.
Aug '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
Trump gets traction because people are thoroughly disgusted with political correctness and representatives whose fighting stance looks more like the fetal position than anything else.
As long a Trump displays a backbone while others display spines of jello, many people will give him a pass on his over-inflated ego and bravado.
Trump has stepped into the leadership void and is capturing the frustration demographic.
Jun '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
I suspect, the only difference between Trump and Mussolini is the hair. It's just that in Mussolini's day, they didn't have powerful enough hairspray to keep a maximum-length double-comb-over (with crossing-layers) properly stabilized. They just didn't have the technology.
Mar '11
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
Brutally honest and plain-talking, competent and savvy, track record of success, an open patriot with name recognition. The perfect opposite of Obama.
Jul '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
Who else has the experience of bringing Empires back from bankruptcy?
Sep '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
He isn't on defense, he's on offense. This is what's required. Trump has already been in the public eye long enough, mockery is old news so he can get away with it. Everyone already knows him - his personality that is, not just name recognition - and what he is saying aligns with what the public expects from him, so he comes off as authentic.
I'm not sure I want Trump as my standard bearer, but I have heard him interviewed and he's is saying all the right things as far as I'm concerned.
What amazes me is how he is handling the birth certificate question. While I believe this is a dead-end politically, Trump has used this to gain attention for himself first and then he's doing a pretty good job of pushing back and making it seem like a simple and legitimate question.
Apr '11
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
The polls are frustrating because they don't have a "none of the above" option. We need a real leader to come forward. Soon!
Jul '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
Wow. What an utterly putrid field of candidates. Romney may be the most vulnerable candidate thanks to his adventures in RomneyCare, so he gets plumped up with a 20% lead. Huckabee, the living incarnation of a spend and tax Republican, and Trump, who in areas political and Presidential has as much experience as my foot stool.
In this field, despite a "right kind of experience" issue, I have to lean toward Bachmann on policy grounds. And, as always, there is the option of going with Palin for the dun of watching people's heads explode (indulging my inner Rob, there).
Sep '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
I h8 Huckabee. I suspect he's not going to run. I hope he doesn't. If he does, I'm going to challenge all the social conservatives to oust him and I think there are influential So-cons who will.
Aug '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
Bingo.
Dec '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
I consider Trump to be a joke candidate. From that perspective, it's entirely appropriate that he be tied with The Huckster.
Aug '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
Do tell.
I am curious to know more about this. I don't want to open a can of worms, but does it involve his blend of religion and politics? I ask that as a devotee of Modern Reformation.
It is hard to be indifferent toward Trump. I don't buy his schtick. He is very shrewd and his message is like a laser pointed at segments of our base. I just find it hard to imagine that he respects the voters he is targeting.
But I do enjoy long walks on his golf course, so I thank him for developing that.
Edited on Apr 7, 2011 at 7:06amMay '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
I wouldn't trust Trump not to engage in corrupt activities while cleaning house. But I prefer him to 2008's candidates for exactly the reason you mention.
I doubt many of the people I know with little political interest (which is most of them) would know anything at all about Pawlenty, Barbour or Daniels. Name recognition is certainly a factor.
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
Whoa. I can appreciate Trump's bold speaking style, but we can't be serious that we want him as president, are we? Please don't ask me, "Is he any worse than Obama?" Obama is not my measuring stick. I mean, I love Muhammad Ali's tough, funny, clever zingers as much as the next guy, but I don't want him running the country.
Mar '11
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
It's frustrating, because there is a real opportunity to oust Obama. He's beatable. But Palin, Romney, Huckabee, and Gingrich aren't going to get it done. Remember that the Left's two most powerful campaign weapons are demonization and mockery. They've already started on Bachmann. As much as I like her, I think she is needed in the House (I'd like to see her as Speaker).
The public already knows Trump; I don't think he will be demonized effectively, although they will try. He does not seem to be paying a price for bringing up the birth certificate issue. Plus, he will probably pick up a good portion of the TV-watching undecided vote. He is not my ideal candidate, but he may be best suited to knock off Obama.
One more factor: Remember that public campaign financing is dead; Obama killed it. The Republican challenger will need either incredible fundraising skills or considerable personal wealth. Any challenger relying on public financing will be outspent 4 to 1 by Obama.
Mar '11
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
Huckabee would be a *disaster*. Trump is a buffoon. As far as I am concerned, anyone who says "we should run government like a business" has NO idea how government bureaucracies actually function. They *cannot* operate or think like businesses, any more than I can become a table.
If Ryan, Christie, and Rubio won't run, I am seriously afeared for our party. Daniels and Barbour and Pawlenty would all be OK - and perhaps excellent for domestic issues. But who could lead in foreign policy? Bolton or Palin for SecState?
Aug '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
I understand what you are saying, but nature abhors a vacuum.
That's pretty much the situation.
Sadly, all the other candidates are like yesterday's soda pop left out overnight.
This is not to say I support Trump. What I appreciate is his shaking things up.
Aug '10
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
That's funny. When you're hot you're hot.
Apr '11
Re: Trump and Huck Tied for Second? Noooooo!
I'm pretty sure I'm not alone here. But, this is why I'm having a hard time not being cynical about things....specifically Ryan's budget proposal, and I don't want to be. Because, soon after, this kind of junk gets fed into the news cycle. Ryan's proposal might be the best thing i've ever seen in my life come out of D.C. (I'm 32). So, to counter some serious reforms, 'we' get to even talk about *uckabee and Trump. Seriously? What's next? How the GOP compromises and special deals/backdoor deals the 2012 budget to death? Please, stop the insanity :)