Pirate's Cove

Just imagine Trump had run a better campaign. That, coming out of the Republican convention, his focus had been primarily on Hillary, Democrats, their policies, and his own policies. That he’d avoided attacking Republicans, and, instead, woo’d those who were fence sitters and #NeverTrump. That he’d avoided all those little spats with citizens. Minimized his war with the media. Just doing that, imagine where he would have been since. We aren’t even talking about things like fundraising, opening campaign offices, get out the vote efforts, etc. Because with one week to go, we get

(WRAL) With a week to go until Election Day, Republican Donald Trump has seized control of a tight presidential race in North Carolina, according to an exclusive WRAL News poll released Tuesday.

SurveyUSA polled 659 people statewide Friday through Monday who have already cast their ballots or are likely to vote in the election and found Trump with a 51 to 44 percent lead over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percentage points.

In a WRAL News poll released three weeks ago, Clinton led Trump 46 to 44 percent.

The latest poll was conducted after the FBI notified members of Congress that it was reopening an investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state. Meanwhile, an Elon University Poll released Tuesday that was conducted before the FBI announcement found Clinton and Trump in a dead heat in North Carolina.

That right there is a pretty big change. But, is it a case of too little too late? Or, are there enough who haven’t voted that could make the difference in the states that Trump must win to get to 270? Hot Air has a good breakdown. Back to the article

Almost a third of respondents in the WRAL News poll ranked trustworthiness as the most important consideration in voting for president. Positions on issues were rated most important by 40 percent, while experience and character were far behind at 17 and 8 percent, respectively.

Of those ranking trustworthiness most important, 83 percent favor Trump. He also wins among those most concerned about issues, 52 to 43 percent. Clinton was favored by 93 percent of those most concerned with experience, and she doubled up Trump among voters concerned about character, 58 to 26 percent.

Trump has also reduced Hillary’s 12 point lead with women down to 7, while increasing his male support from a 9 percent lead to a 23 percent lead. And, increasing his lead among 50+ people and keeping his slight lead with the younger crowd.

Clinton’s sizable lead in North Carolina’s metro areas also has eroded since early October. Her 64 to 27 percent lead among urban voters three weeks ago is down to 53 to 43 percent, and her 9-point lead in the suburbs is now a 2-point deficit. Meanwhile, Trump has extended his lead among rural voters from 18 to 26 points.

It’s the enthusiasm gap. As ABC reported, Trump has taken a 1 point lead in national polls

Trump now leads Clinton by 8 points in the share of voters who are very enthusiastic about their choice as of Friday. But compared with past elections, it’s low for both of them — 53 percent for Trump, 45 percent for Clinton.

Strong enthusiasm for Clinton has lost 7 points since the start of tracking, especially Friday through Sunday. This is possibly an effect of the renewed controversy over her use of a private email server while secretary of state. Trump’s strong enthusiasm has held steady in tracking, which started Oct. 20.

Trump is a not very nice person who tends to get in spats. Hillary is a despicable person who has used her position to enrich herself off the back of her so-called charity, engaging in pay for play while abusing her office while Secretary of State. She’s lied to the families of those killed in Bengazi to their faces, denigrating them when they called her on it, while also lying to the American people as a whole. She’s put her own convenience over national security. She’s sold out American interests. And, let’s face it, she’s not very personable.

Now, just imagine Trump had run a better campaign from the start. We might have been talking about Trump flipping Blue states, rather than having to go into the last week on a hope and a prayer that there really are tons of secret Trump voters.

Crossed at Right Wing News.