from the Washington Examiner
July 9, 2020
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/pollster-trump-must-drive-bidens-negatives-up-to-win-like-in-2016 

Pollster: Trump must ‘drive Biden’s negatives up’ to win, like in 2016

by Paul Bedard

President Trump is having trouble adding to his national support of about 46%, so he will have to drive up Democrat Joe Biden’s “negatives” to win in the fall, a strategy that worked in the 2016 fight against Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a top GOP pollster.

“For them to have any hope of winning this election, they are going to have to drive Joe Biden’s negatives up also over 50%,” said Ed Goeas, president of the Tarrance Group in Washington.

But, he added, “the Trump base is so strong in support of the president that it’s going to be fairly easy for them to do so.”

Goeas, detailing his view of the election to a conference hosted by the centrist GOP RIPON SOCIETY, said that the presidency is at “rock bottom” as the White House fights with the spike in coronavirus infections, the Black Lives Matter movement, and unemployment.

Still, he said, the president has the support of about 46% of the country.

Just like in 2016, Trump’s support is not high enough on its own to win, so playing up Biden’s faults to raise disapproval ratings could work, said the pollster.

“The reason why that is important is that, in this election, I think what we’re going to find is the same 19% to 24% of the electorate who are unfavorable towards both candidates. For the second time in a row, I believe the true swing vote in this campaign is going to be that group of voters that dislike both candidates,” he told the group in a video meeting.

He added that Trump should get back to talking about issues, such as jobs and the economy, because voters like to hear that.

“I truly believe we are at rock bottom right now in the presidential race for Donald Trump. The advantage he usually has is when he is talking about the issues, particularly talking about the economy or taxes or jobs. His numbers go up because he gets a majority support in the country for those issues. I think, unfortunately, both the combination of the coronavirus months that we have gone through and the social and racial unrest that we have gone through, what people are hearing from him is not his policies, but they’re hearing and seeing his persona. So, it is the worst of all worlds for Trump,” said Goeas.

SOURCE: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/pollster-trump-must-drive-bidens-negatives-up-to-win-like-in-2016

________________________

FOLLOW THE RIPON SOCIETY ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER & SOUNDCLOUD