Photo Credit Eric Hanson Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump is shaping up as a test of modern campaigning, particularly in battleground states like North Carolina.
Mrs. Clinton, who will campaign with President Obama in North Carolina next week, has approached these states with a traditional mix of advertising, rallies and grass-roots outreach. Mr. Trump, who is largely depending on rallies, Twitter and free media promotion, has no money for ads, about one-tenth the staff of the Clinton campaign and, so far, only sketchy plans to address either problem.
But, while Mrs. Clinton holds a double-digit lead in some national polls, in others she leads by low single digits. And though Mr. Trumps numbers have fallen, Mrs. Clintons have not risen by a corresponding amount. Some voters appear to be taking a look at Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate.
Mr. Trump will not remain tapped-out and off the air for long. He has been courting big Republican donors and has started an email fund-raising campaign. This week, the National Rifle Association began running ads tying Mrs. Clinton to the tragedy in Benghazi.
It would seem her experience and in-state network should allow Mrs. Clinton to eke out a win in North Carolina, as Mr. Obama did in 2008. But Mr. Trumps continuing popularity despite his flailing performance is a strong signal that she will have to raise her retail politics game quickly to prevail.
Continue reading the main storyThe Clinton campaign has targeted North Carolina and seven other states including Virginia next door and Florida, the biggest Southern swing state with an eight-figure advertising campaign. Democratic Party operatives have been working in North Carolina for more than a year, raising money, recruiting volunteers and registering voters, particularly on college campuses. Ads are running, contrasting Mrs. Clintons work for children and families with Mr. Trumps mocking of disabled people and other groups.
Yet, even after Mr. Trumps month of stumbles, Mrs. Clinton leads him in North Carolina by only two points, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday.
Though North Carolina has seen an influx of Democratic-leaning professionals, politics at the state level remains staunchly Republican. And Mr. Trumps fiery talk against foreign trade agreements and his calls to ban Muslim and Mexican immigrants resonate among disaffected blue-collar workers and rural residents.
Some Trump voters say that while his outlandish statements concern them, his freewheeling campaign speaks to their irritation with politics, government and political correctness.
Against those sentiments, the Clinton campaign, whose rather uninspiring theme is Stronger Together, has struggled at times to move from poll-tested to passionate. In Raleigh, N.C., last month, Mrs. Clinton delivered a meaty, policy-oriented speech to a crowd of about 2,000 people, which was a contrast to Mr. Trumps general volatility. It was a thoughtful presentation of issues. But it wasnt rousing, and it could have drawn sharper distinctions between her proposals and Mr. Trumps ideas, however sketchy. Her commanding speech in Ohio after the Orlando mass shooting was an example of what she can do. Resolute and unifying, grounded in knowledge of the terror threat, it gave voters reasons to support her beyond fear and loathing of Mr. Trump.
Part of the challenge is not to underestimate Mr. Trumps continuing appeal to aggrieved working-class voters. Fueling anger, as Mr. Trump does, is different from addressing it and converting it into enthusiasm for solutions. That is the task that remains ahead for Mrs. Clinton.
Continue reading the main story
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Mrs. Clinton, who will campaign with President Obama in North Carolina next week, has approached these states with a traditional mix of advertising, rallies and grass-roots outreach. Mr. Trump, who is largely depending on rallies, Twitter and free media promotion, has no money for ads, about one-tenth the staff of the Clinton campaign and, so far, only sketchy plans to address either problem.
But, while Mrs. Clinton holds a double-digit lead in some national polls, in others she leads by low single digits. And though Mr. Trumps numbers have fallen, Mrs. Clintons have not risen by a corresponding amount. Some voters appear to be taking a look at Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate.
Mr. Trump will not remain tapped-out and off the air for long. He has been courting big Republican donors and has started an email fund-raising campaign. This week, the National Rifle Association began running ads tying Mrs. Clinton to the tragedy in Benghazi.
It would seem her experience and in-state network should allow Mrs. Clinton to eke out a win in North Carolina, as Mr. Obama did in 2008. But Mr. Trumps continuing popularity despite his flailing performance is a strong signal that she will have to raise her retail politics game quickly to prevail.
Continue reading the main storyThe Clinton campaign has targeted North Carolina and seven other states including Virginia next door and Florida, the biggest Southern swing state with an eight-figure advertising campaign. Democratic Party operatives have been working in North Carolina for more than a year, raising money, recruiting volunteers and registering voters, particularly on college campuses. Ads are running, contrasting Mrs. Clintons work for children and families with Mr. Trumps mocking of disabled people and other groups.
Yet, even after Mr. Trumps month of stumbles, Mrs. Clinton leads him in North Carolina by only two points, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday.
Though North Carolina has seen an influx of Democratic-leaning professionals, politics at the state level remains staunchly Republican. And Mr. Trumps fiery talk against foreign trade agreements and his calls to ban Muslim and Mexican immigrants resonate among disaffected blue-collar workers and rural residents.
Some Trump voters say that while his outlandish statements concern them, his freewheeling campaign speaks to their irritation with politics, government and political correctness.
Against those sentiments, the Clinton campaign, whose rather uninspiring theme is Stronger Together, has struggled at times to move from poll-tested to passionate. In Raleigh, N.C., last month, Mrs. Clinton delivered a meaty, policy-oriented speech to a crowd of about 2,000 people, which was a contrast to Mr. Trumps general volatility. It was a thoughtful presentation of issues. But it wasnt rousing, and it could have drawn sharper distinctions between her proposals and Mr. Trumps ideas, however sketchy. Her commanding speech in Ohio after the Orlando mass shooting was an example of what she can do. Resolute and unifying, grounded in knowledge of the terror threat, it gave voters reasons to support her beyond fear and loathing of Mr. Trump.
Part of the challenge is not to underestimate Mr. Trumps continuing appeal to aggrieved working-class voters. Fueling anger, as Mr. Trump does, is different from addressing it and converting it into enthusiasm for solutions. That is the task that remains ahead for Mrs. Clinton.
Continue reading the main story
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGrwO3A7dhzuEUocYCOKYHXAnOSOA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779142040778&ei=8nh4V4iCNsfVuQL8oYTYBQ&url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/02/opinion/can-old-style-politics-beat-donald-trump.html