Karl Rove swats down idea that Donald Trump's terrible poll numbers are skewed
 
 
Add Karl Rove to the list of Republicans and political strategists who are baffled at Donald Trump's terrible two weeks of self-inflicted wounds. Greta Van Susteren asked George W. Bush's chief strategist on Thursday night's On the Record a "two-part question: Can Donald Trump get back on track, and second is, Will he do that?" "Well, the answer to the first is, yes he can," Rove said. "And the answer to the second is, we don't know." After Rove listed Trump's self-immolating focus on small perceived slights and grudges, rather than Hillary Clinton's faults and missteps, Van Susteren suggested that perhaps the polls were undercounting Trump's support.
"I'm not sure how accurate these polls are," she said. "How many people, when they go behind that closed curtain, are they going to vote for Trump?" Rove, like many pollsters, did not put much stock in a "shy Trump voter" phenomenon. "Well, look, what you are suggesting, and look, I'm not saying it's not worth considering this, but you're assuming that, first of all, the polls are not reliable — all of them — and second of all, that a better test of this is the size of the crowds that he gets at his rallies, which are big and enthusiastic." Walter Mondale, Bob Dole, George McGovern, and William Jennings Bryan all drew large enthusiastic crowds in the final stages of their presidential bids, Rove said, and they all lost.
"There's a difference between who shows up at a rally and who turns out to vote," Rove said, "and right today, I wouldn't be betting that all of those polls showing — I wouldn't bet the Fox News poll is wrong that says he's 10 points down. I wouldn't bet that the NBC poll that has him 9 down is wrong." Watch below. Peter Weber
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
- 
 Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariff Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariffSpeed Read Five Senate Republicans joined the Democrats in rebuking Trump’s import tax 
- 
 Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICE Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICESpeed Read Half of the new ICE directors are reportedly from DHS’s more aggressive Customs and Border Protection branch 
- 
 Shutdown stalemate nears key pain points Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff 
- 
 Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan ad Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy 
- 
 NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footage NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges 
- 
 Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East Wing Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction 
- 
 Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 more Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters 
- 
 Trump demands millions from his administration Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations 
 



