Nationally, the poll of 3,700 people shows Clinton leading Trump, 70 percent to 19 percent. Another 16% back Johnson, 6% Stein.
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Clinton’s military backers argue that Trump’s proposed ban on Muslim immigrants would alienate USA allies in the Middle East.
Mr Trump’s pledge to ask United States military leaders how to defeat IS appeared to be a change of approach. It appears the polls are showing a trend that is now favoring Trump.
On the economy – the number-one issue concerning voters – Trump leads Clinton by 15 points – 56 versus 41 percent. Many may attribute the 4 point drop to her ever growing unfavorable ratings among voters.
Trump has faced intense scrutiny from his opponent, Hillary Clinton, over his readiness to serve as commander in chief of the armed forces. Whites who do not hold college degrees support Trump by an nearly 3-to-1 margin (68% to 24%) while whites who do have college degrees split 49% for Clinton to 36% for Trump and 11% for Johnson. Trump’s supporters have said he’s raising big sums from small donors through digital and direct-mail solicitations.
While the Trump campaign touted the size of its haul, it also tried to make the case that Trump doesn’t need the money that Clinton does. An article today by Steven Shepard in Politico argues that Trump has hit his ceiling.
Trump’s campaign, meanwhile, battling historic unpopularity and a flood of public Republican defections, has been delighted and somewhat relieved to see the polls tighten. His normal poll results put him in the high 30s.
The Dallas Morning News is making some news of its own: the editorial board announced Tuesday that it recommends Hillary Clinton for president.
Trump’s poll numbers are worse than how Mitt Romney ultimately performed in Florida in 2012, when he narrowly lost the state to Barack Obama.
Just as Trump was repeatedly underestimated during the Republican primaries, his aides say he is again being underestimated heading into the general election.
Clinton now has an 83 percent chance of winning the election by an average of 47 votes in the Electoral College, the body that ultimately selects the president.
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Retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, who has been advising the Trump campaign and was on the candidate’s list of potential running mates, said the group of retired military officials came about organically, as they reached out to the campaign to offer counsel and support.
