# Donald Trump's 2016 General Election Campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 4, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901 "2016-05-04T02:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 196
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3903 "2016-08-09T14:31:30Z")
[quote=“leftfield6, post:3902, topic:753901”] At the RNC. [/QUOTE] I love the Dope. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3904 "2016-08-09T14:34:21Z")
[Big time conservative donor Harry Sloan](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/harry-sloan-endorses-clinton-226815) comes out for Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3905 "2016-08-09T15:07:30Z")
It appears that Putin’s trolls are now supporting Jill Stein, apparently to try to steal some Hillary votes. I posted about this in the “Is Donald Trump a Putin patsy?” thread. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=799418&page=8](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=799418&page=8) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3906 "2016-08-09T15:23:18Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Sorry, read it it Politic’s playbook > > [http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/08/buzz-campaign-insiders-media-execs-doubt-trump-will-debate-clinton-susan-collins-not-voting-for-trump-more-ailes-news-from-sherman-bdays-bill-burton-ken-vogel-215766](http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/08/buzz-campaign-insiders-media-execs-doubt-trump-will-debate-clinton-susan-collins-not-voting-for-trump-more-ailes-news-from-sherman-bdays-bill-burton-ken-vogel-215766) OK, thanks. So they don’t name them. **MacCat** added Sasse to my list. Can anyone else help? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3907 "2016-08-09T15:26:17Z")
Well, Jeff Flake isn’t exactly a big fan: [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/senate-flake-trump-226430](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/senate-flake-trump-226430) > [@elucidator](#): > > … how much more can a man demonstrate his fervent devotion to hetero-normal than marrying three times! A lot of men just give up after one! And some never even try. Sad!: [James Buchanan - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan) > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [The most perfect letter to the editor ever.](https://www.balloon-juice.com/2016/08/07/nailed-it/)🙂 Made my day. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3908 "2016-08-09T15:38:46Z")
Kirk, Collins, Cruz, Flake, Sasse, and Graham. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3909 "2016-08-09T15:41:17Z")
Clinton is running tons of ads during the Olympics, and Trump is running **none**. Some Trump PACs are chipping in a little, and the NRA has run some anti-Clinton ads, but Trump himself “has yet to air his first paid TV ad of the general election campaign”. > [@](#): > > Asked about Trump’s decision to stay off the air, Trump’s spokeswoman Hope Hicks said the campaign was not yet ready to provide details about its TV advertising strategy. [Cite, AP](https://apnews.com/a75e4cb6437346619afef80229225005/Clinton%27s-spending-big-on-Olympics-TVs-ads,-Trump-airs-none) Trump raised 80-fucking-million-dollars last month. Where is the money going? I know some of it is going to pay for rooms and catering and such from Trump’s own businesses. But, surely not all $80 million, right? If he doesn’t spend it by Election Day, does he get to pocket it? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3910 "2016-08-09T15:45:39Z")
NYT: [People who donated to establishment Republican candidates in the primary season are more likely to give money to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, than to their own party’s candidate, Donald J. Trump.](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/09/us/elections/Bush-Rubio-and-Kasich-Donors-give-to-Clinton.html) > [@](#): > > Mr. Trump has received money from a smaller proportion of his party’s donors than any candidate since 1980, the filings showed. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3911 "2016-08-09T15:51:20Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > NYT: [People who donated to establishment Republican candidates in the primary season are more likely to give money to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, than to their own party’s candidate, Donald J. Trump.](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/09/us/elections/Bush-Rubio-and-Kasich-Donors-give-to-Clinton.html) Well, to be fair, starting your campaign by saying “I’m really, really rich” and then asking for money is a hard sell. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3912 "2016-08-09T16:19:52Z")
Trump has declared that he won’t change his strategy: [Politico](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-temperament-no-strategy-change-226813) Awesome - 90 more days of crazy downward spiral. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3913 "2016-08-09T16:37:47Z")
> [@MN\_Maenad](#): > > Trump has declared that he won’t change his strategy: [Politico](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-temperament-no-strategy-change-226813) > > Awesome - 90 more days of crazy downward spiral. 😃 From the article, I found these bits particularly amusing: > [@](#): > > As he often does, Trump pointed to the size of the crowds at his rallies as evidence that his campaign is successfully reaching voters. > > “I certainly don’t think it’s appropriate to start changing all of a sudden when you’ve been winning,” he said. “I mean I’ve beaten many people, and now we’re down to one. And we’ll see how it all works out, but I think it’s going to work out well.” He still thinks that rally size is an indicator of nationwide popularity. He thinks that beating Hillary Clinton in the general is going to be similar to winning the primary. Assuming he’s not lying again, this is very encouraging. Hopefully he won’t figure out that he needs to change course until it’s too late. Even if he does, I sincerely doubt his ability to rein in his behavior for more than a few days at a time. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3914 "2016-08-09T16:54:29Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Maine Senator Susan Collins refuses to vote for Trump. Not supporting Hillary either. > > [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/susan-collins-not-voting-trump-226808](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/susan-collins-not-voting-trump-226808) Clarifying her statement, Ms. Collins today stated she is considering voting Libertarian. [http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/09/politics/sen-susan-collins-explains-opposition-to-donald-trump-says-he-will-make-the-world-more-dangerous/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/09/politics/sen-susan-collins-explains-opposition-to-donald-trump-says-he-will-make-the-world-more-dangerous/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3915 "2016-08-09T17:04:49Z")
[Trumps response to the 50 is exactly what you’d expect.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-letter-national-security-officials_us_57a9d201e4b0b770b1a43baf) A direct appeal to his hardened base. He calls them “the failed Washington Elite”. In a written statement he also thanked them for “coming forward so everyone in the country knows who deserves the blame for making the world such a dangerous place.” Also, is it me or is it strange how Trump “uses” people? He repeatedly says he would not use these guys, has no interest in using them and they are upset because he won’t use them. I guess it is the same as when a politician “taps” some one. Like they’re gonna ‘tap that ass’. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3916 "2016-08-09T17:24:16Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > In a written statement he also thanked them for “coming forward so everyone in the country knows who deserves the blame for making the world such a dangerous place.” So, was it these 50 guys who did that, Donald, or was it Hillary and Obama? Get your story straight! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3917 "2016-08-09T17:31:13Z")
[“When I Was A Lad”, by Donald Trump, after Gilbert and Sullivan](https://www.balloon-juice.com/2016/08/09/when-trump-was-a-lad/) (or, if you’re a Republican, Gilbert O’Sullivan): > [@Balloon Juice](#): > > When I was a lad I got the key > To my father’s real estate company > I knocked on doors and collected rent > And now I am the nominee for president! > (And now he is the nominee for president!) > I hassled tenants fearlessly, > And now I am the darling of the G.O.P. > (He hassled tenants fearlessly, > And now he is the darling of the G.O.P.) > > [snip] > > Trump Steaks and Wine, they’re here for you, > Trump Magazine, and oh, Trump Water too, > Ask anyone in my family, > And don’t forget about Trump University > (And don’t forget about Trump University). > That wetback judge has so much gall, > He’s prejudiced because I’m going to build a wall > (That Mexican judge has so much gall, > He hates that Trump has said he’s going to build a wall!) Really, though, it’s wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3918 "2016-08-09T17:43:16Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > So, was it these 50 guys who did that, Donald, or was it Hillary and Obama? Get your story straight! Now that’s just unfair. Look, we all know that, if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem, right? So, given his I ALONE CAN FIX IT claim, either you’re being used by Donald Trump, or you deserve blame. QED. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3919 "2016-08-09T18:39:13Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > It just amazes me how his supporters have been all giddy about how he read from a teleprompter for an hour and stayed on message. You can just see them trying to convince themselves that he has really changed and everything is going to be fine now. It’s pathetic how low their expectations are and if he can just reach them, he’ll win this thing! Yes, we need, sometimes, to refocus. The problem is not that the village has an idiot – it is, rather, that the villagers decided he should run for mayor, and, by God, they will vote for him, since they lost their job tatting lace to those nasty foreigners who have those Satanic machines! ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3920 "2016-08-09T18:42:29Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Clinton is running tons of ads during the Olympics, and Trump is running **none**. Some Trump PACs are chipping in a little, and the NRA has run some anti-Clinton ads, but Trump himself “has yet to air his first paid TV ad of the general election campaign”. > [Cite, AP](https://apnews.com/a75e4cb6437346619afef80229225005/Clinton%27s-spending-big-on-Olympics-TVs-ads,-Trump-airs-none) > > Trump raised 80-fucking-million-dollars last month. Where is the money going? I know some of it is going to pay for rooms and catering and such from Trump’s own businesses. But, surely not all $80 million, right? If he doesn’t spend it by Election Day, does he get to pocket it? I think that once the campaign is over, and, if the candidate declares he is retiring from politics, he is allowed to use any left over funds for whatever purpose he wants. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3921 "2016-08-09T18:47:07Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > I think that once the campaign is over, and, if the candidate declares he is retiring from politics, he is allowed to use any left over funds for whatever purpose he wants. I believe it has to go to another campaign, party, SuperPAC or non-profit. I don’t know if he’s free to “donate” it to one of his own non-profits. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3922 "2016-08-09T18:52:44Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > I think that once the campaign is over, and, if the candidate declares he is retiring from politics, he is allowed to use any left over funds for whatever purpose he wants. [Nope.](http://www.factcheck.org/2008/02/leftover-campaign-funds/) > [@](#): > > Q: What happens to a candidate’s leftover campaign funds when he or she drops out of the race? > > A: The big rule is: no personal use. Full, detailed answer at the link. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=195) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=197)