Trump can still win

By: Matt Teitelbaum, Columnist

Donald Trump is in trouble.

After a slew of controversies, which included but were not limited to a feud with the parents of a dead soldier and a joke about what “second amendment people” can do to stop Hillary Clinton, Trump’s support in polls has dropped to its lowest point since before he secured the Republican nomination.

So it begins. Liberals all across America are cheering at the death of their nightmare candidate’s historical, and at times downright baffling, march toward the world’s most powerful office. Scores of even-keeled people who tremble at the thought Trump’s fingers hovering over the nuclear launch buttons are breathing a great sigh of relief.
Not so fast. Make no mistake, Trump is still in this thing. He can win.

Hear me out. While it’s true that Trump is well behind in the polls, there are still 10 weeks to go before the election takes place.
In April of 2016, as Trump’s dominance over the Republican primary field became ever clearer, it was thought that he would be a non-starter with a national electorate. Just a few weeks later, he was sitting at a virtual tie with Clinton in May before leading her slightly after the Republican National Convention in July.
While you could say that August polls are significantly more predictive than July polls, September and October polls are going to be even more so.
It is simply too early for those who don’t want a President Trump to start holding anything back.

There’s a term in presidential politics, the “October Surprise.” In past elections, the odds of winning have seemed bleak for one candidate just a few months before the election until something shifted dramatically in the last few weeks leading to the big day.

This election may be no different.

Another Clinton email leak, a surprise recession, a terrorist attack or perhaps even a better than expected showing by Trump at the presidential debates would turn things around.
For now, smart money is on a solid Clinton victory. The key words there are “for now.”

Things will likely stay this way until the first presidential debate on September 26. That will be Trump’s earliest chance to turn around his flailing campaign. He’ll get two more debates after that in October.

Any given election can be flipped on its head in a matter of hours, let alone a matter of weeks or months.

Just ask former presidential candidates John Kerry or John McCain, who led over their opponents in the polls within ten weeks of the election only to lose in November.

Be patient. No matter what side you’re on this election, don’t stop fighting until the fat lady sings. That’s not how campaigns work, especially at the presidential level.

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