There isn't much difference between how voters regard Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the new New York Times-CBS News poll. Large majorities believe neither candidate shares their values or is honest and trustworthy. Smaller majorities believe both Clinton and Trump have "strong qualities of leadership."
But on the question of whether the candidates have the "right kind of temperament" to be president, there's a clear difference. Voters are largely split on the question when it comes to Clinton, with 48 percent saying she does possess the right temperament and 49 percent saying she doesn't. There's no such divide when it comes to Trump. Seven in 10 voters believe he does not have the right temperament to be president, with just 27 percent saying he does
That matters. A lot.
Trump ran a primary campaign based, in large part, on the brashness of his personality. He was the candidate willing to get personal about "Little Marco" and "Lyin' Ted," the one candidate who refused to apologize when he said or did something that rubbed some people (or a lot of them) the wrong way.
And Trump has insisted he has no plans to back away from that shoot-first-ask-questions-later approach in the general election. Trump, he insists, will continue to do Trump.
On one level, that makes perfect sense. Put yourself in Trump's shoes. He just beat 16 other people - many of them longtime and much-accomplished politicians - by being unapologetically himself. He did it amid all sorts of questions about whether he needed to moderate his tone or act more presidential. He acted like himself. And it worked. Perfectly.
But, it's hard to see any candidate - Democrat or Republican, Donald Trump or not - winning a general election for the most powerful and visible job in the country if 7 in 10 voters don't believe you have the temperament to be the nation's chief executive.
The Times-CBS poll doesn't delve into the specific issues people have with Trump's temperament. But it's not hard to imagine. His tendency to pop off at people and in the immediate aftermath of major world events doesn't comport with the careful approach most politicians seeking the presidency adopt.
For instance, Trump tweeted that the crash of an EgyptAir flight earlier this week was an act of terror before there was any official confirmation of that fact.
There has long been an expectation that presidents have a responsibility to wait until all (or most) of the facts are known before offering an opinion. The thinking behind that caution is that when you lead the free world, every little thing you say has impact and reverberations well beyond what you can even imagine them to be.
"His kind of unpredictable dangerous rhetoric and the policies thrown out there for whatever hope he has to get people to respond to him make us less like that we're going to be as effective as we need to be going forward," Clinton said in an interview with CNN on Thursday.
Trump's campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, has repeatedly emphasized - in both public and private - that Trump's temperament is adjustable, that the real estate billionaire doesn't have his rhetoric set on "fire hose" at all times. His "behavior can be changed," Manafort told a group of senior GOP staffers during a private meeting Thursday on Capitol Hill.
I believe that. But, two questions linger:
Does Trump WANT to change his behavior and his rhetoric to address the temperament issue?
Even if he did, are views of his not-very-presidential temperament cemented to the point that nothing he could do would change them?
The Washington Post
Sat May 21 2016
Trump, he insists, will continue to do Trump.
Who is Prabowo Subianto, incoming president of Indonesia?
A wealthy ex-general with ties to Indonesia's popular outgoing president and its dictatorial past, looks set to be its next leader.
Iran's supreme leader says Hamas leader's death will not halt 'Axis of Resistance'
The "Axis of Resistance", built up with years of Iranian support, includes Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shi'ite groups in Iraq and Syria.
Putin says Russia willing to seek compromises between Iran and Israel
Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.
What proposals will Russia push at the BRICS summit?
The proposal is also to establish a BRICS reinsurance company to allow uninterrupted shipment of goods and key commodities between members.
Indonesia's free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Prabowo calls the programme one of the main drivers of economic growth, eventually set to add an estimated 2.5 million jobs.
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Putin says BRICS will generate most of global economic growth
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a summit of the group in the city of Kazan on Oct. 22-24.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.