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“Malignantly dysfunctional”

None of this should surprise anyone. There is something deeply, deeply wrong with all of them.

And there’s something equally malignantly dysfunctional about an American culture that would put someone like this in charge of the country.

Let’s hope enough of us have sobered up enough to recognise that.

We might get lucky:

As coronavirus cases surge and states rollback re-openings, former Vice President Joe Biden opens up his biggest lead this year over President Donald Trump in the race for the White House. Registered voters back Biden over Trump 52 – 37 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. This compares to a June 18th national poll when Biden led Trump 49 – 41 percent. Since March, Biden’s lead had ranged from 8 to 11 percentage points.

He’s cratering. And it’s clearly because people are finally seeing what it looks like when a circus clown president has to handle a real crisis:

Independents are a key factor behind Biden’s widening lead as they now back him 51 – 34 percent, while in June, independents were split with 43 percent for Biden and 40 percent for Trump. There is also some movement among Republicans as they back Trump 84 – 9 percent, compared to 92 – 7 percent in June. Democrats go to Biden 91 – 5 percent, little changed from 93 – 4 percent in June.

“Yes, there’s still 16 weeks until Election Day, but this is a very unpleasant real time look at what the future could be for President Trump. There is no upside, no silver lining, no encouraging trend hidden somewhere in this survey for the president,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

BIDEN VS. TRUMP: THE ISSUES

Voters now give Biden a slight lead over Trump in a direct match up when it comes to handling the economy. Voters say 50 – 45 percent that Biden would do a better job handling the economy, a reversal from June when Trump held a slight lead 51 – 46 percent.

Asked about other key issues:

* On handling a crisis, Biden leads 57 – 38 percent;

* On handling health care, Biden leads 58 – 35 percent;

* On the coronavirus response, Biden leads 59 – 35 percent;

* On addressing racial inequality, Biden leads 62 – 30 percent.

BIDEN VS. TRUMP: PERSONAL TRAITS

When asked about whether the candidates are honest, have good leadership skills and whether they care about average Americans, President Trump receives some of his worst scores ever.

Honesty:

Trump: 31 percent say “yes;” 66 percent say “no;”

Biden: 46 percent say “yes;” 42 percent say “no.”

Good Leadership Skills:

Trump: 35 percent say “yes;” 63 percent say “no;”

Biden: 49 percent say “yes;” 42 percent say “no.”

Cares About Average Americans:

Trump: 37 percent say “yes;” 61 percent say “no;”

Biden: 59 percent say “yes;” 33 percent say “no.”

TRUMP JOB APPROVAL

Voters give President Trump a negative 36 – 60 percent job approval rating, a 6 point drop in his job approval compared to last month. In that June 18th poll, Trump had a negative 42 – 55 percent job approval rating. Trump’s net job approval is his worst since August of 2017.

TRUMP’S HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY

President Trump’s approval rating on the economy is underwater as voters approve 44 – 53 percent, compared to his 52 – 45 percent approval rating on the economy in June. Today’s numbers are his worst net score on the economy since August of 2017.

TRUMP’S HANDLING OF OTHER ISSUES

On handling the military, voters give the president a negative 41 – 51 percent approval.

On handling foreign policy, voters give the president a negative 37 – 59 percent approval.

On handling health care, voters give the president a negative 35 – 59 percent approval.

On handling race relations, voters give the president a negative 31 – 65 percent approval.

CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

Voters give the president a negative 35 – 62 percent approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus response, his lowest mark since the question was first asked in March.

A clear majority of voters, 62 – 31 percent, say they think President Trump is hurting rather than helping efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“Trump’s strongest card, the economy, shredded by a killer virus, may have left the president with no go- to issue or trait to stave off defeat… not leadership, not empathy, not foreign policy, and certainly not his handling of COVID-19,” said Malloy.

And get a load of this — a big problem:

CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS

For the first time, a majority, 53 – 46 percent, have either been or personally know someone who has been infected by the coronavirus.

TRUSTING INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS: TRUMP, FAUCI, CDC

Two-thirds, 67 – 30 percent, say they do not trust the information President Trump is providing about the coronavirus.

Conversely, nearly two-thirds, 65 – 26 percent, say they trust the information Dr. Anthony Fauci is providing about the coronavirus.

Roughly 6 in 10, 61 to 33 percent, say they trust the information the CDC is providing about the coronavirus.

“He may be out of the loop and in disfavor with the White House, but it’s clear from the numbers, voters would like Dr. Fauci back on call,” Malloy added.

RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS

Voters say more than 2 to 1, 61 – 29 percent, that they disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling the re-opening of schools.

They also say 2 to 1, 62 – 31 percent, that they think it will be unsafe to send students to elementary, middle, or high school in the fall.

A slightly smaller number, 59 – 34 percent, say they think it will be unsafe to send students to college in the fall.

WEARING OF MASKS

Slightly more than 7 in 10 Americans, 71 – 26 percent, think everyone should be required to wear face masks in public.

They also say, 73 – 21 percent, that President Trump should wear a face mask when he is out in public.

A slightly higher number, 80 – 17 percent, believe masks or face coverings are effective in slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

RUSSIA & REPORTS OF BOUNTIES FOR KILLING U.S. SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN

Seventy-seven percent of voters say they are either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about reports that Russia paid bounties for the killing of American soldiers in Afghanistan. Twenty percent say they are “not so concerned” or “not concerned at all.”

Fifty-nine percent say they think President Trump is not telling the truth regarding what he knew about reports of Russian payments to kill American troops. Twenty-nine percent say they think he is telling the truth.

Voters say 62 – 25 percent that they are not satisfied with President Trump’s response to the reports of Russian payments to kill American troops.

CONFEDERATE SYMBOLS

Voters say 54 – 40 percent they support removing Confederate statues from public spaces around the country.

Voters support 51 – 42 percent renaming military bases named after Confederate generals.

A majority, 56 percent, see the Confederate flag more as a symbol of racism. Thirty-five percent see it more as a symbol of Southern pride.

Trump is on the wrong side of everything.

Maybe that means we don’t actually want malignant dysfunction in the White House.

Imagine that.

Update:

More data from CNBC/NBC poll

Here’s how Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, and the Republican Trump matched up in individual states: 

  • Arizona: Biden 51%, Trump 45% 
  • Florida: Biden 50%, Trump 43% 
  • Michigan: Biden 48%, Trump 42% 
  • North Carolina: Biden 47%, Trump 46% 
  • Pennsylvania: Biden 50%, Trump 42% 
  • Wisconsin: Biden 48%, Trump 42% 

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