Trump takes poll lead as Democratic Party convention descends into chaos

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...democratic-na/

Trump takes poll lead as Democratic Party convention descends into chaos

Donald Trump soared into a poll lead in the race for the White House as Hillary Clinton's plans for a "Convention of hope" descended into bitter infighting and angry protests, with some Democrats saying they would prefer to vote for her Republican rival.

Mrs Clinton is due to become the first female presidential nominee of a major US political party at the Democratic Convention which began in Philadelphia on Monday.

It was billed as a week of optimism laying out a vision of unity and progress for America, contrasting with Mr Trump's dark and foreboding descriptions of a country in crisis.

As the convention was set to open, a new poll from CNN showed Donald Trump leading Mrs Clinton by 44 per cent to 39 per cent.

Former President Bill Clinton is due to laud the abilities of his wife in a speech on Tuesday followed by a glowing endorsement from President Barack Obama on Wednesday setting out how she would secure his legacy.

But Mrs Clinton's message, captured in the slogan "Stronger Together," was immediately overshadowed by controversy and ugly scenes as thousands of angry party members loyal to Bernie Sanders, her left-wing rival for the nomination, took to the streets in 100-degree heat.

The protests were much larger than those against Mr Trump - considered one of the most divisive politicians in modern American history - at the Republican convention in Cleveland last week.

It followed a scandal in which leaked internal Democratic Party emails showed officials had plotted against Mr Sanders in favour of Mrs Clinton.

A national CNN poll showed Mr Trump received a major boost from his convention. It had Mr Trump on 44 per cent, Mrs Clinton at 39 per cent, and the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson on nine per cent.

It was the first time since 2000 that the respected poll had showed a candidate getting a significant surge from their convention.

Mr Trump was considered stronger on the issues of the economy and terrorism, and his lead rose significantly among white voters without college degrees to 62 per cent, over Mrs Clinton's 23 per cent.

Perhaps the starkest figure was that 68 per cent said Mrs Clinton was not trustworthy. Mrs Clinton appeared unusually affected by criticism levelled at her last week by Republicans, which she said was unfair.

She said: "There's the Hillary standard and then there's the standard for everybody else." Mrs Clinton added that cries of "Lock Her Up" made her feel "sad".

A gleeful Mr Trump said: "The Democrats are in a total meltdown. The Democratic Convention is cracking up."

It's not the slam dunk that people have been saying it is.

I am still unsure about Trump as to whether he'd act on his rhetoric (which I like) but having Clinton lose is a very tasty prospect. Also, the thought of the exploding heads if Trump were to win the US Presidency (similar to the reaction over Brexit) is also a delicious prospect.

I'd like to see Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party make the televised debates.

Thoughts?

[wixard]

Without looking at proper figures I would make an assumption Trump will win due to the silent voter, much like Brexit.

however I saw figures indicating a Trump win will be difficult due to the electoral map and states like Florida? I dunno, not sure how the voting works but I assume it's based on the republican/democrate known majorities? Even with the 'angered' democrats stating they'll vote Trump

[FlyingJesus]

Can always trust liberals to shoot themselves squarely in the jaw with a rocket launcher to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. What a bunch of absolute ell bends, surely they knew that their salty salty tears wouldn't bring Bernie back into the race

[Inseriousity.]

I am a strong believer that it doesn't matter too much what happens in a campaign from the super dedicated, the silent majority are wise enough to reach the right outcome*. Ed Miliband, Brexit. So far so good. This is also why I'm convinced that Corbyn will never be Prime Minister and Trump will not be President. He has strong, loyal supporters but I'm sure the majority are horrified at what he comes out with.

*This has a caveat that I should mention of only applying to national politics. Local politics is crazy and defies all logic.

[Lucy]

I have been saying all along that the way Trump will win is by getting people to vote who don't usually vote and they really can't be taken into consideration on "polls".

[Zak]

It certainly would be interesting for Trump to be president. Although I'm sure that doesn't bode well for our relationship with America. I don't think he will win though.

[-:Undertaker:-]

@Zak; I'd say our relationship would improve not that the relationship is anything special anyway. The Republican Party traditionally has been much more pro-Britain than the Democrats have been who are backed by the Catholic lobby who funded the IRA when they were bombing our armed forces and attacking innocent people. The awful Kennedy family. Obama clearly doesn't like this country either because of his grandfather and it shows.

Even when the relationship was at its best anyway - Thatcher and Reagan - they were still hardly the great allies we like to pretend they are.

[scottish]

@Zak; I'd say our relationship would improve not that the relationship is anything special anyway. The Republican Party traditionally has been much more pro-Britain than the Democrats have been who are backed by the Catholic lobby who funded the IRA when they were bombing our armed forces and attacking innocent people. The awful Kennedy family. Obama clearly doesn't like this country either because of his grandfather and it shows.

Even when the relationship was at its best anyway - Thatcher and Reagan - they were still hardly the great allies we like to pretend they are.

how so

[-:Undertaker:-]

how so

It's been a series of little things throughout his administration, removing the Churchill bust from the Oval office to snubbing the then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Then there's the threat he issued over the EU telling us we'd be at the "back of the queue" for a prospective trade deal at the same time that Republicans in the Congress and Senate were saying that would certainly not be the case. Democrats and their backers have never been too fond of this country much less so than the Republican Party. After all, who was it who largely funded the IRA? the Irish American Catholic lobby. Who handed the IRA legitimacy and appeared with them? The Clinton administration. That'd have been like Britain hosting al-Qaeda for talks in Downing Street: a spit in the face.

It's believed too that his dislike stems back to his Kenyan grandfathers experience with the British colonial authorities. But it's like I have said before, America isn't all too fond of Britain as a whole anyway and its a delusion on our part that this is the case. But any ill feeling towards us is certainly bedded in the Democratic Party. I like America as a country but I don't buy into this alliance myth - it's always been an alliance for their hegemony interests after World War II.

"Ah, Enoch, dear Enoch! He once said something to me I never understood. He said, "You know, I've told you all I know about housing, and you can make your speech accordingly. Can I talk to you about something that you know all about and I know nothing? I want to tell you that in the Middle East our great enemies are the Americans." You know, I had no idea what he meant. I do now."

- Sir Anthony Eden (former Prime Minister) to Andrew Freeth after the Suez Crisis, from Simon Heffer, Like the Roman: The Life of Enoch Powell, pp. 122-3.

The rivalry between both countries is deep and runs deeper than people think.

[lawrawrrr]

What I don't understand is how his supporters seem to be turning a complete blind eye to all the rape allegations, bankruptcies, practically scam enterprises (Trump U for example)... the list goes on!

I saw something on Twitter recently which said that his "real" percentage was around 20% and the polls were skewed or something - I can't find it now though!


I do now worry he may have a decent chance of winning but the policies he's pledged to SURELY won't be passed... he's a terrifying thought as a world leader though. Please, please let Sanders backers do the sensible thing and not split the Dem vote any more because it's looking like a close one as it is...