Handicapping the Clinton-Trump Race
May 5, 2016

As you may know, we here at The Factor like to advance stories, not give you the same thing over-and-over again.

As we predicted weeks ago, Hillary Clinton will be running against Donald Trump for the presidency unless she is indicted over the email scandal.

So let's take a look at who has the advantage right now.

An analysis of the electoral votes by the Washington Post says that if Mrs. Clinton wins all the states Democrats traditionally win plus D.C., she only needs to win Florida to become president. 

But that's a bit simplistic because Donald Trump should be more competitive in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania than Mitt Romney was.

However, there is no question Mrs. Clinton is the favorite to win at this moment.

Even talk radio Republicans are split on Trump.

RUSH LIMBAUGH: “My instinctive feeling right now is that Trump is going to win, beat Hillary badly, that it could be landslide proportions.  I still don’t think people understand why Trump won this.  I don’t think they understand at all the reason people support Trump.”

((EDIT))

GLENN BECK: “Because Donald Trump is the GOP candidate, and I believe Hillary Clinton is going to win because of this, you will never elect another GOP person to high office ever again because you’re going to have Hillary Clinton legalize as many voters as you can.”

Right now you can throw the primary votes right out the window.

About 20% of voting age Americans participated, leaving the vast number of Americans still to be heard from.

Mr. Trump's support is fervent and that will help him.

Secretary Clinton’s support is more tepid.  However, her advantage in the minority precincts and among women is substantial.

And Mrs. Clinton is putting forth that she's not going to take any guff from Donald Trump:

HILLARY CLINTON: “If he wants to go back to the playbook of the 1990s, if he wants to follow in the footsteps of those who have tried to knock me down and take me out of the political arena, I'm more than happy to have him do that. ((EDIT)) This is, to me, a classic case of a blustering, bullying guy who - who has knocked out of the way all of the Republicans because they were just dumbfounded.”

For his part Mr. Trump told me last night he is more than happy to take the low road if Hillary Clinton attacks him.

That sets up a very unpredictable race, and remember a debate between Clinton and Trump will be the most watched political event in history, I predict.

So summing up, anything could happen but Hillary Clinton has to be considered the favorite today.

And that's the memo.

Posted by Bill O'Reilly at 5:38 PM
Share this entry
Discuss This Entry
Handicapping the Clinton-Trump Race
<< Back to Talking Points Memo