{"id":14542,"date":"2016-11-08T11:19:12","date_gmt":"2016-11-08T11:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=14542"},"modified":"2016-11-08T11:19:12","modified_gmt":"2016-11-08T11:19:12","slug":"democratic-insiders-near-certain-of-clinton-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/elections\/democratic-insiders-near-certain-of-clinton-win.html","title":{"rendered":"Democratic insiders near-certain of Clinton win"},"content":{"rendered":"

Democratic insiders near-certain of Clinton win<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Democratic insiders near-certain of Clinton win:-<\/strong> Swing-state Democrats are supremely confident of Hillary Clinton\u2019s chances Tuesday, while Republicans are considerably less optimistic about Donald Trump’s odds of winning.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s according to the final pre-election survey of The POLITICO Caucus: a bipartisan panel of battleground-state activists, strategists and operatives that handicapped the presidential race from the very beginning. Across 11 key states, 92 percent of Democrats expect Clinton to carry their state on Tuesday, while 59 percent of Republicans think Trump will win their state\u2019s electoral votes.<\/span><\/p>\n

On balance, the insiders\u2019 predictions show the electoral map tilting toward Clinton. Democratic insiders are least confident of Clinton\u2019s chances in Iowa, where she trails Trump in the polls. Republicans are more self-assured there, but few expect Trump to win in some other battleground states \u2014 like Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a state-by-state breakdown of how insiders on the ground view the race:<\/span><\/p>\n

A majority of insiders in both parties expect Clinton to carry Colorado.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe fundamental dynamics here have never changed: Colorado’s combination of college educated voters, Latinos, and younger voters are deadly to Trump,\u201d said a Democrat there \u2014 who, like all respondents, completed the survey anonymously. \u201cThe race tightened post-Comey letter but has settled back into a small but significant Hillary lead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end, I don’t see Trump being able to do well enough in the Denver \u2018burbs for him to win the state,\u201d a Republican added. \u201cIt’s telling that DCCC and [Morgan] Carroll’s campaign have spent the final 3 weeks tying [incumbent GOP Rep. Mike] Coffman to Trump. It won’t be enough to take out Mike, but it’s telling how poorly Trump must be doing in the 6th District.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In Florida, each of the dozen Democratic insiders who completed the survey picked Clinton to win, but most of the Republicans think Trump will carry the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFlorida will be Florida. It will be close,\u201d a Democrat said. \u201cBut with the surge of women and Hispanics, Florida should be with her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But most Republicans there see the momentum in Trump\u2019s favor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Comey letter was a game-changer for Trump. He has also been extremely disciplined the last two weeks,\u201d said a Republican. \u201cThat has allowed traditional Republicans to come home. He will run up the score in North Florida and red strongholds like Southwest Florida.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both parties see Iowa going Republican after two consecutive cycles in Barack Obama\u2019s column.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump’s lead has increased in Iowa over the past two weeks, and he appears to many to have locked up Iowa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTrump’s lead has increased in Iowa over the past two weeks, and he appears to have put Iowa away,\u201d a Republican there said. \u201cDemographics are destiny, as they say, and the demographics for Trump are simply too strong. While Mitt Romney struggled to win over white working class voters, Trump is winning them in huge numbers, including independents and some Democrats. Iowa’s dislike and distrust of Hillary Clinton is also a big factor in her failure to energize Democrats.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A Democrat agreed, writing simply: \u201cToo many non-college whites.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

An Iowa Republican added that Iowa has been hostile territory for Clinton dating back to the 2008 caucuses, when she finished behind Obama and virtually even with former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNine years of scar tissue have hampered Hillary here,\u201d the Republican said. \u201cIt\u2019s not that Trump beats her, it\u2019s that Obama and [Bernie] Sanders and Trump have beaten her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Democrats are still confident in Michigan, despite the last-minute campaigning by both parties there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRepublicans are about to learn a hard lesson in the experience of the \u2018Dead Cat Bounce,\u2019\u201d said one Michigan Democrat. \u201cVoters are settling now into traditional camps, but there’s not going to be a revolution in Michigan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Republicans, however, give Trump a fighting chance there \u2014 and are celebrating the fact they made Clinton defend a state that hasn\u2019t gone Republican since 1988.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTrump has forced Hillary Clinton and Democrats to spend significant time and money in the Wolverine State in a way not seen in a while \u2014 don\u2019t forget [John] McCain abandoned Michigan in 2008, causing a down-ballot electoral disaster for the GOP \u2014 and is well-positioned for a possible electoral upset in much the same way as Sanders defied all the polls and expectations to best Clinton in the state’s Democratic primary earlier this year,\u201d a Republican said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The early-vote tallies in Nevada have Democrats riding a wave of optimism.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be close,\u201d said one Democrat, \u201cbut the Hispanic surge during early voting, combined with Hillary’s solid ground game, should put her over the top.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some Republicans agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLarge early-vote turnout and [FBI director James] Comey walking back his earlier statements will push state over to Clinton,\u201d said one Republican.<\/span><\/p>\n

The polling has closed in New Hampshire, but the more than a dozen Democrats who completed the survey were unanimous in picking Clinton to win \u2014 with many citing the party\u2019s organization in the state.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGround game, ground game, ground game,\u201d said one Democrat. \u201cI drive around southern New Hampshire and see Trump supporters pointlessly waving signs at busy intersections. Then I drive into neighborhoods and see Democratic canvassers everywhere. Even if the polls are close and accurate, the superiority of the Democratic ground game is worth a few points. New Hampshire looked like a toss-up in 2012, and President Obama won by 5 points. I expect a similar result.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

More than a dozen New Hampshire Republicans were split nearly evenly. \u201cNeck and neck, but I think she prevails,\u201d said one.<\/span><\/p>\n

But other Republicans see it tilting the other way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to be very close,\u201d said another Republican. \u201cTrump has tremendous momentum and is leaning heavily on [Kelly] Ayotte’s outstanding ground game for GOTV. It’s true that Clinton has the veterans who know where the votes are buried, but I’m going with the candidate who wants New Hampshire more, and that’s Trump.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Democrats in North Carolina believe Clinton\u2019s organization there will help her carry the state\u2019s 15 electoral votes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Clinton ground game is in overdrive,\u201d one Democrat said. \u201cThat will be more than enough for her to hold onto the lead she established during early voting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But most Republicans see the race tilting toward Trump.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPolling is mixed, but Trump has a narrow lead on average,\u201d a Republican said. \u201cEnthusiasm for Trump, a favorable early voting composition, and weak African-American support for Clinton will likely be enough to give him a narrow edge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The polls have closed in Ohio over the past week, and Democrats are increasingly optimistic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have organizers [living] with me, and my house is a staging location, and this weekend was the first time in a month that I thought we just might pull this off, but it will be close,\u201d a Democrat said. \u201cDon’t expect Ohio to be called on November 8th.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Most Republicans see Trump winning, though one cautioned, \u201cIt will be close.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One Republican who picked Clinton knocked Trump for spurning the state down the stretch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTrump’s decision to go to Minnesota instead of campaigning for Ohio’s must-have 18 electoral votes in the final days will allow Hillary to squeak by,\u201d the Republican predicted.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Pennsylvania, all Democrats and most Republicans project Clinton as the winner of the commonwealth\u2019s 20 electoral votes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do not think much has really changed over the last several months,\u201d said one Democrat. \u201cI know that a big deal is made out of the fact Trump spent time and resources here over the last few days and that Clinton is finishing her campaign in Philadelphia. But over the last several cycles, GOP candidates have made one last run at Pennsylvania and even drew good crowds. … But it was a mirage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTrump had made an impressive turnaround, but in the end, the Democratic turnout machine in Philadelphia will ensure a Clinton victory,\u201d a Republican added.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clinton\u2019s lead has been durable in Virginia, and most insiders in both parties expect her to prevail there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProbably conventional wisdom, but, from personal observation, turnout for Hillary in northern Virginia, particularly Fairfax County, is steady and powerful,\u201d a Democrat said. \u201cThat will boost her fairly substantially over the winning mark for Virginia.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDespite a feverish last minute attempt to make Virginia seem interesting this cycle, it’s not,\u201d added a Republican. \u201cIt never has been. Trump makes as much sense in the commonwealth as an igloo in Virginia Beach. He’s a horrible fit for the state’s electorate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, most insiders agreed that Clinton has the edge in Wisconsin, which hasn\u2019t voted for a Republican since 1984.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTrump has got close, but the race has settled out without Trump getting the traction he needed to swing independents his way,\u201d said a Republican. \u201cAnd the gender gap he has caused to widen makes it too tough to close the gap.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But, one Wisconsin Democrat humbly conceded, this race has been full of surprises.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe is up in the polls,\u201d the Democrat said. \u201cBut hey, I’ve been wrong about so many things this past year, so who knows?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, insiders were divided on which party will control the Senate next year, with Democrats (89 percent) more confident than Republicans (77 percent).<\/span><\/p>\n

On a state-by-state level, insiders mostly agree that incumbents Michael Bennet in Colorado, Marco Rubio in Florida, Chuck Grassley in Iowa and Rob Portman in Ohio will win re-election. But insiders are divided by party in Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Nevada, Democrats like Catherine Cortez Masto\u2019s chances to defeat GOP Rep. Joe Heck in the race to replace retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEarly vote Democratic turnout will save Catherine Cortez Masto from losing to Joe Heck,\u201d predicted one Democrat. \u201cIt’ll be an uncomfortable close victory \u2014 likely 10-15,000 votes will decide the race.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Republicans, meanwhile, predict a repeat of four years ago, when appointed Sen. Dean Heller withstood Obama\u2019s victory to win a full term.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis will likely follow the same pattern at 2012, when Obama won the state but many Dems did not bother with the down-ballot races, so the Republican won the Senate seat,\u201d a Republican said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Democrats in New Hampshire were split between Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan and GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf Trump can keep his losing margin within 5 or 6 percent, [Ayotte] has a real chance to survive,\u201d a Democrat said. \u201cWhile Democrats most definitely have the party machine cranking, there’s a lot more independent support for Kelly Ayotte just based on the fact that she’s more likeable and personable than Hassan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaggie has run a terrible campaign,\u201d a New Hampshire Democrat said. \u201cShe has been hurt by the heroin epidemic and her superdelegate status for Hillary in a Bernie state.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Republicans are cautious, however.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe last-weekend Trump collapse has seriously threatened Ayotte,\u201d said one Republican. \u201cShe needs to run at least 7, 8 points ahead of Trump, and even that may not be enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In North Carolina, Republicans picked GOP Sen. Richard Burr to win a third term over Democrat Deborah Ross. Most Democrats chose Ross, but some said Burr could pull it out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope I am wrong but Burr will squeak this one out,\u201d a Democrat said. \u201cTicket-splitters will carry the day for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Most Democrats like Katie McGinty\u2019s chances of unseating GOP Sen. Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cToomey has run a textbook campaign, but there is no chapter for dealing with Donald Trump at the top of your ticket,\u201d said one Democrat. \u201cHe was in a no-win situation and was never able to give a satisfactory answer as to whether he would vote for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Republicans were split but said Toomey could over-perform the top of the ticket.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cToomey will win by a hair,\u201d one Republican predicted. \u201cOn Election Day he’ll perform in the Pittsburgh media market at or near Trump and will outperform Trump in the Philadelphia media market.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And in Wisconsin, while Democrats unanimously picked former Sen. Russ Feingold to defeat the man who unseated him six years ago, GOP Sen. Ron Johnson, some lamented how close the race has drawn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf Russ Feingold, one of the most honest, transparent, intelligent senators we’ve ever seen, loses to Ron Johnson, a superficial, shallow ignorant candidate, I will be very depressed,\u201d said one Democrat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Republicans, on the other hand, think Johnson has the momentum.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRon Johnson has crawled back to make the race a toss-up, and Russ Feingold hasn’t done anything to stop the bleeding,\u201d a Republican said. \u201cJohnson\u2019s message and ads are superior to Feingold’s media. Plus, Russ looks tired.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the members of The POLITICO Caucus, not all of whom participated in this survey:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Colorado:<\/strong> Ryan Call, Laura Carno, Matt Chandler, Will Coyne, Adam Eichberg, Mark Ferrandino, Cole Finegan, Michael Fortney, Andrew Freedman, Ted Harvey, Craig Hughes, Owen Loftus, Pete Maysmith, Frank McNulty, Karen Middleton, Christopher Murray, BJ Nikkel, Josh Penry, Rick Ridder, Alan Salazar, Janice Sinden, Pat Steadman, Pat Waak, Steve Welchert, Taylor West, Roxane White, Rob Witwer<\/span><\/p>\n

Florida:<\/strong> Fernand Amandi, Scott Arceneaux, JP Austin, Tim Baker, Dennis K. Baxley, Slater Bayliss, Dave Beattie, Wayne Bertsch, Ron Book, Pamela Burch Fort, Jose Calderon, Kevin Cate, Kelly Cohen, Gus Corbella, Brian Crowley, Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder, Justin Day, Judith Diaz, Nelson Diaz, John Dowless, Ryan Duffy, Jessica Ehrlich, Joe Falk, Alia Faraj-Johnson, Mark Ferrulo, Damien Filer, Marty Fiorentino, Rich Heffley, Nick Iarossi, David Johnson, Eric Johnson, Marian Johnson, Eric Jotkoff, Chris Korge, Jackie Lee, Susan MacManus, Beth Matuga, Fred Menachem, Jon Mills, Joe Mobley, Ben Pollara, Andrea Reilly, Steve Schale, April Schiff, Max Steele, Roger Stone, Richard Swann, Kevin Sweeny, Christian Ulvert, Steve Vancore, Ashley Walker, Andrew Weinstein, Andrew Wiggins, Ryan Wiggins, Rick Wilson<\/span><\/p>\n

Iowa:<\/strong> Tim Albrecht, Brad Anderson, Rob Barron, Jeff Boeyink, Bonnie Campbell, Dave Caris, Sam Clovis, Jerry Crawford, Sara Craig, John Davis, Steve Deace, John Deeth, Derek Eadon, Ed Failor Jr., Karen Fesler, David Fischer, Ben Foecke, Doug Gross, Steve Grubbs, Tim Hagle, Bob Haus, Joe Henry, Drew Ivers, Jill June, Lori Jungling, Jeff Kaufmann, Brian Kennedy, Jake Ketzner, David Kochel, Chris Larimer, Chuck Larson, Jill Latham, Jeff Link, Dave Loebsack, Mark Lucas, Liz Mathis, Jan Michelson, Chad Olsen, David Oman, Matt Paul, Marlys Popma, Troy Price, Christopher Rants, Kim Reem, Craig Robinson, Sam Roecker, David Roederer, Nick Ryan, Tamara Scott, Joni Scotter, Karen Slifka, John Smith, AJ Spiker, Norm Sterzenbach, John Stineman, Matt Strawn, Charlie Szold, Phil Valenziano, Jessica Vanden Berg, Nate Willems, Eric Woolson, Grant Young<\/span><\/p>\n

Michigan:<\/strong> Jill Alper, Saul Anuzis, Andrea Bitely, Lori Carpentier, Howard Edelson, Jordan Gehrke, Steve Hood, Darwin Jiles Jr., Joe Lehman, Dennis Lennox, Katie Packer, Ronna Romney McDaniel, John Truscott, Stephanie White, John Yob<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevada:<\/strong> Mac Abrams, Greg Bailor, Barbara Buckley, Yvanna Cancela, Bob Cavazos, Linda Cavazos, Jim DeGraffenreid, Andrew Diss, Peter Ernaut, Ryan Erwin, Chip Evans, Jay Gerstema, Oscar Goodman, Ryan Hamilton, Dan Hart, Pat Hickey, Zach Hudson, Jeremy Hughes, Megan Jones, Lindsey Jydstrup, Adam Khan, Peter Koltak, Roberta Lange, Sam Liberman, Laura Martin, Michael McDonald, Chuck Muth, Erven Nelson, Kristen Orthman, Neal Patel, Nick Phillips, Jon Ralston, Andres Ramires, Emmy Ruiz, Scott Scheid, Mike Slanker, James Smack, Paul Smith, Jack St. Martin, Mari St. Martin, Daniel Stewart, Brendan Summers, Riley Sutton, Robert Uithoven, Michelle White, Ed Williams, Heidi Wixom<\/span><\/p>\n

New Hampshire:<\/strong> Charlie Arlinghaus, Arnie Arnesen, Patrick Arnold, Rich Ashooh, Dean Barker, Juliana Bergeron, D.J. Bettencourt, Michael Biundo, Ray Buckley, Peter Burling, Jamie Burnett, Debby Butler, Dave Carney, Jackie Cilley, Catherine Corkery, Fergus Cullen, Lou D\u2019Allesandro, James Demers, Mike Dennehy, Sean Downey, Steve Duprey, JoAnn Fenton, Jennifer Frizzell, Martha Fuller Clark, Amanda Grady Sexton, Jack Heath, Gary Hirshberg, Jennifer Horn, Peter Kavanaugh, Joe Keefe, Rich Killion, Harrell Kirstein, Sylvia Larsen, Joel Maiola, Kate Malloy Corriveau, Maureen Manning, Steve Marchand, Tory Mazzola, Jim Merrill, Jayne Millerick, Claira Monier, Greg Moore, Matt Mowers, Terie Norelli, Chris Pappas, Liz Purdy, Tom Rath, Colin Reed, Jim Rubens, Andy Sanborn, Dante Scala, William Shaheen, Stefany Shaheen, Carol Shea-Porter, Terry Shumaker, Andy Smith, Craig Stevens, Kathy Sullivan, Chris Sununu, James Sununu, Jay Surdukowski, Donna Sytek, Kari Thurman, Colin Van Ostern, Deb Vanderbeek, Mike Vlacich, Ryan Williams<\/span><\/p>\n

North Carolina:<\/strong> Don Davis, Francis X. De Luca, Anita Earls, Jonathan Felts, Tami L. Fitzgerald, Dylan Frick, Taylor Griffin, Robin Hayes, Morgan Jackson, Patsy Keever, Theresa Kostrzewa, Michael Luethy, Ray Martin, Thomas Mills, Melissa L. Reed, Chris Sgro, Paul Shumaker, Dee Stewart, Brad Thompson, Bruce Thompson, Charlie Wallin, Doug Wilson<\/span><\/p>\n

Ohio:<\/strong> Jerry Austin, Greg Beswick, Matt Borges, Erica Bruton, Tim Burke, Janet Carson, Jai Chabria, Martha Clark, Bob Clegg, Damareo Cooper, Jo Ann Davidson, Michael Dawson, Bill DeMora, Cindy Demse, Kathy Dicristofaro, Katie Eagan, Michael Gonidakis, Wes Goodman, Joe Hallett, Ian James, Melissa Klide Hedden, David Leland, Nick Martin, Rhine McLin, David Pepper, Molly Shack, Mark R. Weaver<\/span><\/p>\n

Pennsylvania: Chris Borick, Larry Ceisler, Valentino DiGiorgio, Jason Ercole, Dan Fee, Charlie Gerow, Marcel Groen, Leslie Gromis Baker, Mark Harris, Nan McLaughlin, Aubrey Montgomery, Christopher Nicholas, Nachama Soloveichik, David Sosar, Todd Stephens, Doc Sweitzer, David Thornburgh, Ray Zaborney<\/span><\/p>\n

Virginia:<\/strong> Ray Allen, Sandra Brandt, Marc K. Broklawski, Patsy Brown, Janet Carver, John Cosgrove, Brian Coy, Doris Crouse-Mays, Tom Davis, Julie Dime, Abbi Easter, Mike Farris, John Findlay, Joe Fitzgerald, Sean Harrison, Margo Horner, Robert Hurt, Gaylene Kanoyton, Chris LaCivita, Sue Langley, Frank Leone, Robert G. Marshall, Tucker Martin, Ed Matricardi, Susan J. Rowland, Peter Snyder, Susan Swecker, Jo Thoburn<\/span><\/p>\n

Wisconsin:<\/strong> Meg Andrietsch, Mary Arnold, Kevin Barthel, Mike Basford, Rebecca Bonesteel, Barry Burden, Terri Burl, Jim Camery, Patrick Guarasci, Robert Hansen, Gary Hawley, Marian Krumberger, Emily Nehring, Jason Rae, Brandon Scholz, John Zapfel<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.politico.com\/story\/2016\/11\/democratic-insiders-clinton-trump-caucus-230908<\/span><\/p>\n

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