by Mike Smith According to the poll, 57 percent have an unfavorable view of Trump, and 52 percent view Clinton unfavorably. These are disapproval ratings no candidate should feel good about. Yet both seem to be on their way to winning their respective parties’ nomination.
Donald Trump has experienced success in the Republican primaries by connecting with a group of voters that feels disenfranchised and who have a strong emotional reaction to Trump’s style and willingness to challenge the political elites. They are mostly white middle class Americans who feel the Democratic and Republican parties have abandoned them for other constituencies.
But as the political poll clearly highlights, Donald Trump is having problems reaching out to a broader constituency because he purposely drives his negatives up by generating controversy — the cornerstone of his political strategy. He is savvy enough to know that controversy quenches the constant thirst for news in our 24-hour news cycle. The more the controversy, the more he dominates the news — the more outrageous, the better. He’s the political equivalent of a Kardashian. And although that may help him win enough votes in a primary, it is a major problem once he moves to a general election because this behavior alienates many.
Given his positions, it is fair to say that liberals will never support him, but what should be more disconcerting to Trump is that longtime conservatives don’t believe he’s a conservative either. His past record gives them every reason to doubt his allegiance to conservative causes. In addition, many independents find him rude and crude and lacking the presidential temperament to meet the challenges of this country. The only saving grace for Donald Trump is that Hillary Clinton may be his opponent.
Clinton has a major problem, too. According to polls, Americans don’t trust her. There is an impression that she will do or say anything to get elected and preserve power. Certainly, supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders have seen her change her messaging to sound a lot more like their candidate. Her positions appear to be a matter of political necessity, not core conviction. The Clintons, like Trump, seem to create controversy — some generated by opponents and some self-inflicted. In response, they frequently appear to nuance the truth.
In the past the traits being exhibited by both Trump and Clinton would have ended a political career. But here they are, one of them likely to be the next president. As it stands today, Hillary Clinton would beat Donald Trump, according to this poll. Even a recent poll in Utah — one of the most Republican of Republican states — has Clinton beating Trump in a head-to-head match-up in a general election.
Is this is the best the most powerful country on earth can offer up as the leader of the free world? Hardly. It is, however, what our major party primary process has generated. And many Americans are left asking themselves: “Really? Are these our only choices?”
Mike Smith was secretary of administration and secretary of human services under former Gov. Jim Douglas. He is the host of the radio program “Open Mike with Mike Smith” on WDEV 550 AM and 96.1, 96.5 and 101.9 FM. He is also a political analyst for WCAX-TV and WVMT radio and is a regular contributor to The Times Argus, Rutland Herald and Vermont Business Magazine.