Donald Trump far behind in preparing for general election

[webfact]

Donald Trump far behind in preparing for general election
By STEVE PEOPLES and JILL COLVIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican presidential nomination may be in his sights, yet Donald Trump has so far ignored vital preparations needed for a quick and effective transition to the general election.

The New York businessman has collected little information about tens of millions of voters he needs to turn out in the fall. He's sent few people to battleground states compared with likely Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, accumulated little if any research on her, and taken no steps to build a network capable of raising the roughly $1 billion needed to run a modern-day general election campaign.

"He may be able to get by on bluster and personality during the primaries, but the general election is a whole different ballgame," said Ryan Williams, a veteran of Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns. "They're essentially starting from zero heading into the general election."

Trump's early campaign efforts — fueled in the primary season by the sheer force of his personality and free media coverage — have defied all who predicted they would fall short of what's required to win the nomination.

Yet the billionaire's aides acknowledged they'll tap into the resources of the party's establishment — the Republican National Committee, above all — as the scale and scope of the 2016 contest grow exponentially. That's even as he rails daily against his party's establishment as corrupt, and they predict his unique success so far will pay off again in November.

"Our ability to run a different type of campaign against Hillary Clinton in a general election is unique to the success that Mr. Trump has shown in the primaries," said Corey Lewandowski, Trump's campaign manager.

Trump's late start marks a sharp break from past Republican campaigns and that of Clinton, who is already beginning to shift resources to the November election. The Republican front-runner's organizational disadvantage marks another warning sign for GOP officials who already feared he was unelectable this fall — even if he were well-prepared.

Trump has taken steps in recent week to add experienced political staff to expand his bare-bones organization. Yet the team has been consumed by playing catch up with Republican rival Ted Cruz, devoting almost no energy or planning to the next phase. Trump hopes he can score a victory in the Indiana primary Tuesday that can effectively end Cruz's bid.

Lewandowski and other aides have also signaled a willingness to work closely with the Republican National Committee should Trump claim the nomination — "hand in glove," in Lewandowski's words.

Ed Brookover is working from a recently opened Washington-area office that is tasked with developing Trump's detailed policy prescriptions and working with allies on Capitol Hill.

"From all reports — we've not gone in and kicked the tires yet — the RNC's got a larger ground game already in place than ever before," Brookover said. "And they've been investing an incredible amount of money on data." He said that's "going to be incredibly helpful."

Indeed, the Republican National Committee has been expanding its national footprint and accumulating detailed information about millions of general election voters since soon after the GOP's disastrous 2012 election. With only a few employees on the ground at this time four years ago, the RNC now has more than 200 in general election battlegrounds such as Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia and Colorado.

"We are so far ahead of where we were," said RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer. "Whether it's Trump or someone else, that's going to be a huge advantage."

On the Democratic side, Clinton has already begun to send waves of campaign staffers to battleground states. Adviser are starting to consider locations for a splashy convention rally in Philadelphia and lawyers are scrutinizing more than two dozen possible vice presidential picks. The Democratic front-runner also has a well-established donor network and is planning lucrative fundraisers in New York, Michigan, California and Texas later this month.

Trump has lashed out at other candidates for raising money from wealthy donors, but GOP leaders anticipate he will need to do the same thing in the coming months. Many Republicans are skeptical that Trump has the willingness or the capacity to cover the estimated $1 billion cost of the campaign ahead.

Absent a massive personal investment, Trump and his party will be tasked with raising millions of dollars a day to match spending levels from the past election. The Romney campaign spent years developing an extensive fundraising network and collected general election cash long before his primary contest was decided.

For now, though, the Trump campaign concedes it has done little to prepare for the fall fight.

"Once we are the nominee, we will look at all the options," Lewandowski said of fundraising.

Trump still has staff on board in battlegrounds such as Ohio and Florida, though employees and volunteers have been consumed by the primaries.

"We're focused on winning Indiana and then going on and winning California and New Jersey and anything in between," said Stephen Stepanek, Trump's co-chairman in New Hampshire, which is a perennial swing state. "Then we will start talking about the general election."


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-05-03

[Pinot]

Trump is far behind on everything. Someday we'll all look back on this Republican party abortion and just laugh. Oh wait, that's what we're doing already.

[fakename]

I dont see how he has made it this far, acting like a school boy, and making remarks on everyone's looks. The only thing he can say, over and over again, is "we will make America great". No real plan at all, but maybe the rednecks need someone like him.

[Kabula]

Most no longer follow reality shows and polls recently revealed most no longer follow the news....

[Siamthomas]

Love this man a real man and Prayuth is a long way behind after seeing the comparison. I bet you hopes Trump not hold office. But yes he will and human rights will be restored. Put up the taxes why you can

[elgordo38]

Politics makes strange bedfellows. If the Donald secures the nomination the GOP will overlook all the anti establishment retoric that has flown out of the Donalds mouth and they will open up their wallets. I wonder if the Koch Bros. will or will they back Hillary as they have threatened to do. When compared to the Donald 4 years of Hillary is starting to look good to some of the hi rollers in the GOP

[Ulic]

Politics makes strange bedfellows. If the Donald secures the nomination the GOP will overlook all the anti establishment retoric that has flown out of the Donalds mouth and they will open up their wallets. I wonder if the Koch Bros. will or will they back Hillary as they have threatened to do. When compared to the Donald 4 years of Hillary is starting to look good to some of the hi rollers in the GOP

I agree with you 100%. The problem with the Koch brothers and there ilk (GOP establishment)

It is not about politics and ideology but influence and control. They fear Trump as someone

who will do the right thing and bring jobs home from Mexico and other countries who are

competitive only because of low pay, low/unenforced environmental standards, etc...etc...

These trade agreements are now under the microscope. What has been revealed is they

are mostly about increasing company profits by moving manufacturing jobs offshore and in

the case of the EU lowering environmental and working standards. Of course everyone

benefits from slightly lower priced products but it is the companies that benefit the most from

vastly increased profits. That said as the US middle class shrinks, fewer people can afford those

products anyway. For me, strange as it is I like, Bernie and the Donald. They (I think) would

make it about the people, and getting people to join the middle class not squeezing the 99%

for as much as they can get.

[dunroaming]

As I understand it the rest of the republican party have now decided to back Trump after spending the last few months complaining that he was a complete liability to the party. Clearly this is a party gripped by desperation.

"Yes he was a complete moron and a terrible liability to the republican party however it appears he will win the nomination so he is a great nominee with true republican ideals".

Couldn't be more fun!

[slipperylobster]

President Trump...

That's correct !

[kiniyow]

You May think he is not prepared but just Wait !!!

[arjunadawn]

Trump has an advantage regarding how preparations are made. Its not just organization and participation. Its context and framework. Trump's preparations are largely put in place by the Democrat agenda; its failed and miserable legacy. This fact paints the entire landscape in which Trump operates.

Progressives in the US enable their preparations for the general election by continuing to double-down on all the agenda and policies that have enabled Trump in the first place (expect the worst of Obama's policies and agenda to be expedited shortly). In fact, it is Democrat candidates that require far more organization, participation, and preparations because their primary need is to appear as something they are not, divorced from the tragedy of their failed policies. Always this; always sleight of hand. Admit nothing, deny everything, make counter-accusations.

In essence, as Socrates would note, Democrats need to make "the worse argument appear the better."