There is by no means a shortage of bluster from the Trump campaign, but the latest puff of hot air is truly Obama-esque.
After a few losses to Ted Cruz --- and poll after poll showing the billionaire of having very little chance in the general --- Trump is now hitting back with some slightly twisted facts. He is now claiming to be in a better position against Hillary Clinton than Reagan was against Carter in 1980 at this point on the election calendar.
Co-host Stu Burguiere went to the numbers Thursday on The Glenn Beck Program to see if Trump's claim holds water. Surprise, surprise – it doesn't.
The Actual Numbers
• Carter led Reagan by an average of 5 points
• Clinton leads Trump by 11 points
Favorable vs. Unfavorable
• Reagan was viewed favorably by 39% and unfavorably by 44% (-5%)
• Trump is viewed favorably by 30% and unfavorably by 64% (-34%)
Positive, Negative Scale
A poll in 1980 asked potential voters to rank the candidates on a scale ranging from -5 to +5. Ronald Reagan scored on the positive end of the scale with 70% of voters. Only 27% ranked Reagan in the negative range.
No Such Thing As #NeverReagan
• 13% of voters in 1980 said they would never vote for Reagan
• 54% of voters in 2016 say they will never vote for Trump
Astronomical Negatives
54% might seem like a large number of #NeverTrump voters, but compared to key demographics it’s nothing. Trump has a negative rating of 80% among Hispanics and African-Americans, and a 70% negative rating among women – the single largest voting block of registered voters.
“If people were honest in their answers to these polls, there is literally no way he can win,” Stu.