TRUMP'S PARTY – AT 1:33 P.M. ET:  New numbers show President Trump's enormous popularity among Republicans.  From the Washington Examiner:   

Republican voters are demanding that President Trump run for reelection in 2020, the latest evidence that support among his backers is stronger than it was for nearly every recent president.

According to the latest Economist/YouGov poll, 68 percent of Republicans want Trump to run for reelection.

And Democratic pollster John Zogby said this week that only former President George W. Bush was more popular than Trump among his base going into his first mid-term election, and he had just launched a war against America’s 9/11 attackers.

Discussing U.S. politics with foreign reporters, Zogby said:

His approval ratings within his own party are high. If you look today, 87 percent of Republicans give him a positive approval rating. What’s that mean? At this point in his presidency, Barack Obama had a 79 percent rating among Democrats. The only president at this point in time in the presidency to outscore Donald Trump was George W. Bush at 95 percent, and of course, by this point in time, we had launched the war in Iraq. Ronald Reagan wasn’t this high. Jack Kennedy wasn’t this high. The GOP is the party of Trump.

No fan of the president's antics, Zogby also told the foreign press that Trump’s disruptive tactics are working for him.

“Donald Trump is the disruptor-in-chief, and he’s unconventional, erratic, anti-elite, and frankly, that is working for him right now,” said the pollster who is the co-author of the weekly Secrets presidential report card published on Saturdays.

COMMENT:  I think that's an accurate report.  Republican enthusiasm for Trump will help get out the vote in the November midterms.

We should, however, point out that support within one's own party is not enough to win elections.  The Democrats despise Trump and won't give him the time of day.  I have not seen thorough polling among independents.

I would take nothing for granted.  Trump must expand his base.  I have a feeling he will do that by making a major play for minority votes.  He might just get them, especially with his strong, job-creating economy.

June 15, 2018