All About Politics: Trump’s and Clinton’s Poll Numbers, Finances

Some observations as decision day draws closer…

**The Polls**

No man is more fond of quoting the “poll numbers” than Donald Trump. Except when the poll numbers do not favor him.

You all remember his constant citing of the favorable numbers during the Republican primary season. He would start all his speeches with the good numbers and repeat them in the middle and finish his remarks by saying them once again.

Now that “the polls” are showing him in bad shape, he has changed his shtick. Now, he loudly says he doesn’t “believe the polls.” This guy is so unbelievably, transparently, substance-free, I do not know how anyone can take him seriously — let alone actually vote for him.

But he does have a base, which will not leave him under any circumstances. These people are truly the Kool-Aid crowd. He himself has said that he (Trump) could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and they would still vote for him. He has a lock-solid 35 percent of the voting public, but just maybe the undecideds are finally coming to the conclusion that they cannot debase the country by voting for him.

The states that actually go for him will forever be remembered and put in a very special category.

**Campaign Finances**

A not very well reported fact is how well Hillary Clinton is doing in the fundraising sector. She raised $154 million in September alone. At the beginning of October, she had $150 million in the bank. That is twice as much as Trump has in the bank.

Trump, who during the primaries said he would self-finance his campaign, quickly dropped that idea when it came to the general election. He promised to spend $100 million of his own money on the campaign but he has actually spent $65 million. I really don’t think he will pony up the rest.

There are about 2.6 million individuals who have given to his campaign, which probably thought his frenzied following would be a lot bigger than that number.

**Neighboring Virginia and Maryland**

Before President Barack Obama won in 2008 and in 2012, Virginia was reliably Republican. You have to go back to 1964 and the LBJ landslide to note a Democratic presidential win. (Bill Clinton ran well there but lost it both times.)

Even when there was the “solid South” in the 1950s for the Dems, Eisenhower won it in 1952 and 1956. This time, it looks like a lock for Clinton. The Washington Post poll shows her up by an amazing 15 points. The Trump campaign says it will spend money there, but I believe it’s not true. Tim Kaine definitely is a determining factor in making it a secure “blue” state.

I ran into former Rep. Jim Moran on Tuesday. He was buoyant and proclaimed that Clinton would win by “12.” He also predicted incumbent Rep. Barbara Comstock would lose by four points to LuAnn Bennett. (Bennett, by the way, was married to Moran.)

As for Maryland, it will go big for Clinton — a 30-point margin. Chris van Hollen will be the new Democratic senator and the very smart Jamie Raskin will be elected to the House of Representativs. Watch for Raskin to immediately be a big hit. He’s gutsy and will speak out on issues that others avoid. He will also be a great friend of D.C. His quips will be funny and memorable.

**D.C. Reminder**

Early voting starts Saturday, Oct. 22, and runs through Friday, Nov. 4. You can same-day register as well. The hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The nearest place is Chevy Chase Community, 5601 Connecticut Ave. NW. Don’t forget to vote yes on the advisory referendum on D.C. statehood. You knew I would say that.

*Political analyst and Georgetowner columnist Mark Plotkin is a contributor to the BBC on American politics and a contributor to TheHill.com. Reach him at markplotkindc@gmail.com.*