09-18-2016, 12:35 PM
I've had a house full of guests since Thursday night, so I haven't read or seen the latest developments.
I like Bill Weld, he really helps elevate the Johnson ticket, in my opinion. I don't know if Weld dropping out would be an advantage or disadvantage to Trump.
I thought Johnson/Weld would mostly attract never-Trump Republicans, along with Independents who couldn't stomach Clinton or Trump and would just stay home if there weren't a viable third party candidacy. If that had happened, the Johnson/Weld ticket would have helped Hillary and hurt Trump.
But, if the current polls are showing that Clinton is losing never-Trump voters and high numbers of Independents to Johnson/Weld and Trump is attracting more moderate Republicans and Independents than originally forecast, then I can see where Weld leaving the ticket might help Clinton, assuming those Johnson/Weld supporters migrate to Clinton or stay home on election day.
I know you don't like this and may not agree, but I don't think Trump is enticing Independents with his recent more mainstream and scripted appearances. I think Clinton let them get away. I think she played her cards badly when she had a good solid lead across the board last month by spending her time at fundraisers rather than in front of potential voters and the press. At the same time, Trump's change in campaign management kicked into gear and helped him avoid shooting himself in the foot every day and get on script. He was speaking more effectively to to potential voters while she was behind closed doors collecting money.
Let's hope all that fucking money she raised for television ads is used effectively and Trump isn't better at debating the issues than many expect. She needs to kick ass in the debates and annihilate Trump to win back and win over thinking Independents. Making this election a referendum on Donald Trump cannot be the primary strategy of the Clinton campaign, in my view. She also needs to be better at telling us and showing us, specifically and frequently, why she's so much better. I still think she'll be the next President, but I'm not as confident about that as I was last month and that's because of Clinton's shortsightedness, not Trump's savvy.
I like Bill Weld, he really helps elevate the Johnson ticket, in my opinion. I don't know if Weld dropping out would be an advantage or disadvantage to Trump.
I thought Johnson/Weld would mostly attract never-Trump Republicans, along with Independents who couldn't stomach Clinton or Trump and would just stay home if there weren't a viable third party candidacy. If that had happened, the Johnson/Weld ticket would have helped Hillary and hurt Trump.
But, if the current polls are showing that Clinton is losing never-Trump voters and high numbers of Independents to Johnson/Weld and Trump is attracting more moderate Republicans and Independents than originally forecast, then I can see where Weld leaving the ticket might help Clinton, assuming those Johnson/Weld supporters migrate to Clinton or stay home on election day.
I know you don't like this and may not agree, but I don't think Trump is enticing Independents with his recent more mainstream and scripted appearances. I think Clinton let them get away. I think she played her cards badly when she had a good solid lead across the board last month by spending her time at fundraisers rather than in front of potential voters and the press. At the same time, Trump's change in campaign management kicked into gear and helped him avoid shooting himself in the foot every day and get on script. He was speaking more effectively to to potential voters while she was behind closed doors collecting money.
Let's hope all that fucking money she raised for television ads is used effectively and Trump isn't better at debating the issues than many expect. She needs to kick ass in the debates and annihilate Trump to win back and win over thinking Independents. Making this election a referendum on Donald Trump cannot be the primary strategy of the Clinton campaign, in my view. She also needs to be better at telling us and showing us, specifically and frequently, why she's so much better. I still think she'll be the next President, but I'm not as confident about that as I was last month and that's because of Clinton's shortsightedness, not Trump's savvy.