A few weeks ago, the mainstream news media reported that Donald Trump’s campaign was on life support. Polls showed him trailing Hillary Clinton by a widening margin. He was criticized for his aggressive response to the Orlando terror attack and continued to receive criticism for his negative comments about a Latino judge handling the Trump University case. The media also was fascinated by an anti-Hillary tweet that allegedly depicted a Star of David with images of cash in the background. Trump denied the allegations but had to deal with media backlash for weeks.
Hillary, meanwhile, was criticized but acquitted by FBI Director James Comey for her handling of secret and top secret emails. Although Comey said Clinton was “exceptionally careless” in her handling of classified material, he insisted she had no intention of breaking the law.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch agreed with Comey and decided not to prosecute Clinton. The decision came just days after Lynch’s infamous meeting with former President Bill Clinton on the tarmac in Phoenix. While Lynch said the conversation was about grandchildren and golf, most Americans didn’t buy the sob story.
The whole Clinton email scandal and subsequent preferential treatment were received very negatively by Americans. According to an ABC News/Washington poll, 56% of Americans disapproved Comey’s decision not to charge Clinton, while only 35% expressed support.
Americans know preferential treatment when they see it, and in this case it was clear that Hillary’s political influence was a major factor in the Justice Department’s decision. It reminded the public of the double standards of justice that exist in our country, a condition that is anathema to Americans who care about the integrity of our criminal justice system.
Not surprisingly, Hillary’s already low ratings for trustworthiness and honesty have plummeted. As a result, Hillary’s national ratings against Trump have begun to decline significantly. Trump is up a up-to-date high of 44 percent in the latest Rasmussen poll, a solid 7 percent lead over Clinton. He is also leading in the latest LA Times poll by 43-40 percent, and is tied with Clinton in the latest New York Times poll. Most notably, in up-to-date state polls from Quinnipiac University, Trump enjoyed a slim lead over Clinton in the key swing states of Florida and Ohio, and was tied with Clinton in Pennsylvania, a state the Republicans did not win in 1988.
As his poll numbers have risen, Trump has found himself in the spotlight with a very public decision about his vice presidential pick. Today, it was finally made official that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will be the chosen candidate. Pence is a unthreatening bet, unobtrusive but solidly conservative and considered an evangelical favorite. That will assist Trump unite the party and appeal to former Ted Cruz supporters who may still be unhappy with the presumptive nominee. While some wanted Trump to choose former House Speaker Newt Gingrich or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Trump clearly viewed Pence as a lower risk and a reliable defender who could make a convincing case for the campaign to the American people.
There was more good news for Trump yesterday, as the RNC Rules Committee overwhelmingly rejected the “Never Trump” contingent’s demands that delegates not be required to vote and be allowed to vote according to their conscience. If this ill-advised effort had succeeded, it would have disenfranchised nearly 14 million voters, the most in GOP history, who voted for Trump in primaries and caucuses across the country. If successful, the “unbinding” movement would have destroyed the Republican Party and any chance the party had of winning the White House again.
With Trump, the GOP has a real chance to win in the fall. Hillary is a very imperfect candidate, while Trump has the ability to appeal to working-class and union voters who have not historically voted for the GOP. So, unlike Romney or McCain, Trump has a real chance to win Pennsylvania and other Rust Belt states.
Hopefully voters will ignore the remaining Republican critics who have tried to derail Trump’s campaign for so long. At this point, those critics can either support Trump or assist Hillary. Hopefully, the expansive majority of Republican voters will continue to support the candidate who has a realistic chance of winning and will be given the opportunity to fulfill his mission to “Make America Great Again.”
