Trump's Image Up Sharply Among Republicans (Gallup poll)

gallup.com/poll ^ | Frank Newport

[RoosterRedux]

Donald Trump's net favorable rating among Republicans increased significantly over the past two weeks, putting him among the top six Republicans overall on this measure. Ted Cruz's image also improved, while Carly Fiorina's and Ben Carson's images remain significantly better than they were before the Aug. 6 debate. John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Scott Walker are among those whose images worsened.

[LS]

It will be interesting to see where he is after the Hewitt show (I thought overall the interview was pretty good) and his comments on the KY official (where he is askew of conservatives, but likely very much in line with general public).

My guess is that he will be about the same, that his team will demand that he brush up on national security before further one-on-ones, and that he will pretty much stay with his Kim Davis statement with no addendums.

[going hot]

I hear gnashing of teeth already.

[PGR88]

Has Trump said anything about Obamacare?

My small business and I are being screwed by Obamacare and its complicated rules.

[Fantasywriter]

Hardest hit: Karl Rove.

[ballearthout]

If he can survive telling the truth about Kim Davis, he can probably survive anything. So called “gay marriage” is the wedge issue that keeps on giving.

[LS]

I heard gnashing of teeth after McCain, Megyn Kelly, etc. Didn’t seem to matter in the long run. I’m betting within a week he is huddling with generals, just as he did with Sessions and just as he did with Forbes.

[RoosterRedux]

I didn't know who Gen Soleimani is either (and I am a Freeper for heavens sake;-).

Hewitt knew that was a gotcha question. I doubt Jeb, or Walker, or Perry know who Gen Soleimani is.

[RoosterRedux]

He has said he’s gonna get rid of Obamacare.

[Charles Henrickson]

Christie, Gilmore, Pataki, Graham: Why? Why go on? You guys are all at zero or below. Get out now and clear a little space.

[theoldmarine]

Yes, our next President has addressed the issue. And in so many words he says Obamacare Sucks. He says the premiums are unaffordable and the deductibles make the insurance un-useable. He promises to repeal and replace.

(Source: numerous Trump rallies and interviews)

[RIghtwardHo]

Is it because he is exposing himself as being more and more Liberal??

Unreal.

[RinaseaofDs]

Money will take care of that. These guys are all betting Trump won’t last.

That’s a bad bet. Donors money is the money in the bet. Pretty soon they’ll take that money off the table.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes he has.

1. He intends to utilize private sector solutions
2. He intends to put an end to state line restrictions on insurance companies
2. a. He expects this to increase competition and lower rates
2. b. He expects this to cause diversification of policies offered
3. He wants to talk to all health care stake-holders to see if they have ideas how to take care of the uninsured (45 million) as much as possible from the private sector or at least to cut costs

The government has always stepped in to pay the costs of indigent care. It’s reimbursement has never been sufficient.

We need to find a way to do this cost effectively, and make sure hospitals receive full reimbursements

[LS]

Well, you can check, which I did, with EVERY interview HH has done. The catch is, with Walker, he laid it ALL out in advance---who the Quds were, who Soleimani is---and Walker still talked in generalities. Fiorina nailed it. She is very smart, very wonk-smart, and this is her type of thing, I see her as a Condi Rice type adviser.

But the governors all missed it. I can't recall if Bush did, but Christie and Perry missed it. By and large, the senators go it---because they go through weekly intel briefings. Carson missed it.

I don't find that at all a big deal. I expect the national guys to get stuff like this---course, they have no clue how to build a building. And FFS we are 17 months out. I think that's plenty of prep time to call in some generals and bone up. But Trump is right that a year from now the players may well all change anyway.

[RoosterRedux]

I would think that the money raised by PAC's isn't actually cash in the bank, but commitments to be paid in over time.

In that case, you can bet that these commitments are being withdrawn rapidly from all the losers (particularly from Jeb)

[DouglasKC]

Trump and Cruz gained the most. Kasich lost big time. Just another indication where the real soul of the Republican party stands.

[RoosterRedux]

Thx for that input, LS. I can’t bear to sit through a bunch of Hewitt interviews. For some reason, I find the guy off-putting.

[Charles Henrickson]

Yesterday I moved Bush from “Meh” to “No,” so here’s my own current scorecard of the 17 candidates:

Yes) Cruz

Maybe) Walker, Rubio, Jindal

Meh) Carson, Gilmore, Huckabee, Paul, Perry, Santorum

No) Bush, Christie, Fiorina, Graham, Kasich, Pataki, Trump

[InterceptPoint]

Also note the other good news from the poll:

Moving Up
Trump +16
Cruz +7
Fiorina +5

Moving Down:
Kasich -12
Bush -6
Walker -6
Christie -4