Tag: 2016 GOP Primary

Trump Ahead of Kasich in Ohio

Buck Banks

31%

Donald Trump’s lead in the GOP primary race in Ohio, followed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 26%, Ted Cruz at 21%, Marco Rubio at 13% and Ben Carson at 5%, according to a new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio. Said pollster Peter Brown: “A Kasich Ohio win is crucial to the Republicans trying to stop the New York businessman’s nomination. If Trump can defeat Kasich in his home state, that would be an impressive demonstration of his strength in a state that is just now getting attention.” On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders, 55% to 40%.

The Almost Inevitability of Trump

Buck Banks

As long as this is a multi-candidate race and Trump keeps getting 35%, he’s going to pick up delegates. That’s just a fact of life. If he gets 35% and the other 65% is split among three or four candidates, then he gets the majority of delegates. Until this is a two-person race, he has the inside track, but I’m not sure it becomes a two-person race in time for anyone to beat Trump.

— Former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), in an interview with WMUR.

Jeb Bush Spent $130 Million and Didn’t Win Anything

Buck Banks

$130 million

Amount Jeb Bush spent on his failed presidential bid. “When Jeb Bush formally entered the presidential campaign in June, there was already more money behind him than every other Republican candidate combined. When he suspended his campaign on Saturday night in South Carolina, Mr. Bush had burned through the vast majority of that cash without winning a single state. It may go down as one of the least successful campaign spending binges in history.” — New York Times

Biden Says Trump Could Be Nominee, but Not President

Buck Banks

I think it is very possible he could be nominated and depending on how this all plays out. I would take him seriously in terms of being able to win because he’s appealing to fear.

— Vice President Joe Biden, asserting that Donald Trump could end up clinching the Republican nomination, while adding that he “would be surprised” if Trump got elected, Politico reports.

Trump Falls Behind Cruz Nationally

Buck Banks

28%

Ted Cruz’ lead in the national GOP horserace, followed by Trump at 26%, Marco Rubio at 17%, John Kasich at 11%, Ben Carson at 10% and Jeb Bush at 4%, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Said pollster Bill McInturff: “When you see a number this different, it means you might be right on top of a shift in the campaign. What you don’t know yet is if the change is going to take place or if it is a momentary ‘pause’ before the numbers snap back into place. So, one poll post-Saturday debate can only reflect there may have been a ‘pause’ as Republican voters take another look at Trump. This happened earlier this summer and he bounced back stronger.”

Trump Holds Largest National Margin Yet

Buck Banks

39%

Donald Trump’s lead over the GOP pack nationally — his highest total so far — followed by Marco Rubio at 19%, Ted Cruz at 18%, John Kasich at 6%, Jeb Bush at 4% and Ben Carson at 4%, according to a new Quinnipiac poll. Said pollster Tim Malloy: “Reports of Donald Trump’s imminent demise as a candidate are clearly and greatly exaggerated. Like a freight train barreling through signals with his horn on full blast, Trump heads down the track towards a possible nomination.” In the Democratic race, Hillary Clinton is just ahead of Bernie Sanders, 44% to 42%.

George Bush Represents a Kinder Political Age

Buck Banks

I had a twinge of nostalgia watching George W. Bush campaign for his little brother in South Carolina Monday night… He was earthy… Bush was corny… He was also self-deprecating. … But mostly, W’s cameo in the 2016 campaign served as a reminder that, not too long ago, conservative politics wasn’t so beastly. Bush, wading into the manure pile that is the 2016 Republican primary fight, was pleasant, civil and decent.

— Dana Milbank, Washington Post