More Organized(?) Trump Campaign Solicits British MPs

I’m sure Paul Manafort’s job of trying to bring some semblance of organization to the Trump campaign feels somewhat like herding cats. He does seem to have managed to get Trump to actually make a speech from a teleprompter without going totally off script – an incredible feat in itself – although I’m not sure unilaterally ripping up trade deals is the kind of thing that business-friendly Republicans really want to hear. And Manafort also has started to bring on board some real campaign professionals, announcing three hires of seasoned politocos today.  But, in the Trump campaign, you always end up taking a few steps back as well.  Apparently, British MPs are being barraged by email solicitations from the Trump campaign, indicating that its first foray into fund-raising may not be going so well. Now, intentionally soliciting political contributions from foreign nationals is absolutely illegal. But the operative word there is intentionally.  With the Trump campaign, the defense that they didn’t do this on purpose will probably have a ring of truth.

More problematic for Manafort and Trump is the candidate’s slump in the polls.  Yes, these are early days and polls this far out are far from meaningful. But an 8 point deficit or worse makes down-ballot Republicans extremely nervous and could create some chaos at the July convention if it is not somewhat reduced by then. And Trump’s constant braggadocio about winning doesn’t really fly when he is clearly losing. Manafort may be able to bring some order to the campaign but the real problem may just be the candidate.