50 States of Gray: Policy, Twitter Wars, Polling and VPs

Donald Trump learning first hand about what the “Clinton Machine” means…

Putting together a General Election apparatus is tough thing to do and sometimes it can make or break a candidate. Donald Trump is learning first hand how to run such a campaign, and he’s learning just how powerful the Clinton machine is. For example, the Clinton Machine  – as reported in the Federal Election Commission filings – has 685 paid employees to Donald Trump’s 69 paid staffers.  The filings also detail both campaigns fundraising efforts where the Trump Campaign began the month of June with just $1.3 million in cash to Clinton’s $42.5 million. This also comes at the time where Donald Trump had to fire his campaign manager Corey Lewandoski over many reports of infighting between him and seasoned political operative Paul Manafort.  Trump is hoping that a new number two man can stop with the campaign bumps in the road, while continuing to have his campaign be the lean machine he’s always wanted without hundreds of paid staffers.

 Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump give dueling economic speeches

The economy is the number one thing American Voters care about this election cycle and these two candidates continue to draw stark contrast between which direction to take the country.   During her economic speech a few weeks back in swing state of Ohio (and agin this week in Atlantic City), Clinton blasted Trump for his business record and attacked his proposed economic plan. She pointed to the presumptive GOP presidential nominee’s assertion that we could print more money to pay our debt which she believes would “drive inflation and cripple [our] economy.”  She then attacked tTrump for his tax plan, which she says “would give millionaires a $3 trillion dollar tax cut [and] Corporations $2 trillion more.”

A week later, Trump gave his economic speech (by teleprompter) in Pennsylvania (another potential swing state). Trump went after Secretary Clinton over her support of her husband’s signing of NAFTA as “the worst trade deal in US History”. Trump even used some of Hillary’s primary rivalBernie Sanders’ language, repeating his point that she “voted for virtually every trade agreement that has cost the workers of the country millions, millions, of jobs.” While Trump was giving his speech, Hillary responded via Twitter with a picture of a Donald Trump shirt that says “made in Bangladesh” to point to his own outsourcing.

The US Chamber of Commerce – normally staunchly in the GOP column – responded via Twitter during Trump’s speech saying , “Under Trump’s trade plans, we would see higher prices, fewer jobs, and a weaker economy.”

As both candidates continue to show a contrast on their proposals and views ,voters on the fringe may start to decide who is best for the country just by looking at the economic plans.

What the latest polls say

The June 26-29 USA Today/Suffolk University Poll on likely choice for president has Clinton beating Trump by 6 points, 46% to 40%. The 6-point lead by Secretary Clinton is down from the same poll conducted in April where she led by 11 points, 50% to 39%. Although Donald Trump is losing in this poll, I think there’s something to be said about all the trouble he has gotten himself into as of late, and not being able to rally the Republican establishment figures to his side, yet he is actually making gains.  It just shows how interesting this election cycle has been and should continue continue to be.

On the horizon

Next week we will look at potential VP picks for both candidates. Each candidate needs something different to balance their ticket and in a election year unlike anything political strategists and pundits have ever seen, it will undoubtedly catch us by surprise. When picking a candidate to add to your ticket, there are a few hard burning questions that each campaign will take a hard look at.  Among those things:

• Will the candidate help mobilize the base of your party?
• Does this candidate change the electoral map?
• Does the candidate come from a swing state?
• Who has each party been doing opposition research on?
• Does this person possibly peel off independents?
• Can this candidate handle the national spotlight?

Then there is specifically what each candidate may need.  For example, Trump may need a current elected official with a bridge to Washington since he doesn’t have any domestic or foreign policy experience. Hillary, for example, may need someone who can take Bernie Sanders’ supporters since he has yet to actually endorse her or suspend his campaign. She may also been looking for someone whose Senate seat won’t be replaced by a sitting Republican Governor in hopes of the Democrats winning back congress in November.

It is key to remember two things about the whole vetting process for vice president:

1. Campaigns try to signal one way, only to go with another option
2. Nominees consider certain people out of clear respect for their party or to for that individual only pick them for a cabinet position later.

So, sometimes you have to sort through the signaling and look more at what makes the most common sense.