Trump has fallen behind Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in opinion polls nationally and in vital swing states, raising the prospect of a wipeout in the November 8 election that could hurt Republicans in congressional and state races. I have done that…and believe it or not, I regret it.
Advertisement
As was the case earlier this year, most voters have doubts that either Clinton or Trump would make a good president.
Ms Conway said the more disciplined approach by Mr Trump, who has never held elective office, would not mean jettisoning his more off-the-cuff and unpredictable style.
Trump also made a major appeal to the African-American voters, telling them that they have nothing to lose by choosing him, “We are going to reject bigotry and I will tell you the bigotry of Hillary Clinton is wonderful, she sees communities of color only as votes and not as human beings.She’s been there forever, and look at where you are”.
Trump’s new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, suggested in her first days on the job that she favored that strategy, but that she would also seek to “sharpen” Trump’s campaign message, in part with scripted speeches like Trump delivered on Thursday. “She never tells the truth”.
The subject line of the Clinton campaign’s email to reporters labeled Trump’s speech as “Trump’s Teleprompter regret”, highlighting Trump’s reliance on the device in several speeches this week after previously shunning the teleprompters.
The Clinton campaign immediately expressed doubt over the sincerity of Trump’s contrition, calling it “teleprompter regret” and pressed Trump to go further.
But Trump supporters largely accepted the change of tone, even if some saw it as unnecessary.
“After several failed attempts to pivot into a more serious campaign, Donald Trump has chose to double down on his most small, nasty and divisive instincts”, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said. “He has continued to do so through each of the 428 days from then until now, without shame or regret”, Clinton spokeswoman Christina Reynolds said in a statement.
“If you start pivoting you are not being honest with people”, Trump told local Wisconsin station WKDT this week. “But that apology tonight is simply a well-written phrase until he tells us which of his many offensive, bullying and divisive comments he regrets_and changes his tune altogether”, she said.
Americans are probably willing to grant Trump a fair amount of grace because he’s not a polished politician but they still want to see that he cares about the truth.
“I will not rest until children of every color in this country are fully included in the American Dream”, he said.
Advertisement
Still, only about a third (31 per cent) said she would be a “good or great president”, while 22 per cent said would be average and 45 per cent think she would be a poor (12 per cent) or bad (33 per cent) president, Pew said. “Voters know if you’re comfortable in your own skin”.
