Hello everyone! Let’s talk about the surprising impact of former President Donald Trump’s recent conviction on his popularity and fundraising efforts. If the Democratic Party thought that convicting Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records would lead his supporters to abandon him, they might want to reconsider. In reality, Trump’s approval ratings and campaign donations have seen a significant boost.
According to a report conducted by the Daily Mail and J.L. Partners, Trump’s conviction led to a six-point increase in his approval ratings. The survey, taken just hours after a jury found Trump guilty, revealed that 22 percent of voters now view him more favorably, while only 16 percent have a more negative view. This shift highlights the former president’s remarkable ability to turn adversity into support.
Even more interesting is the impact on independent voters, a crucial demographic that often decides election outcomes. The poll showed a four-point net positive impact among these voters. Trump’s approval bump among independents suggests that many see the trial as politically motivated, reinforcing his image as a fighter against perceived injustices.
James Johnson, who managed the report, explained that while the trial did not significantly change deep-set views of Trump among most Americans, it did boost his support among those open to changing their minds. He stated, “Our snap poll of a representative sample of likely voters shows that for most Americans the trial has not changed their deep-set views of Trump. But amongst those who are open to changing their mind, people feel more positive by a margin of 6 points. That is outside of the margin of error of the poll and we are saying that is significant.”
This sentiment is echoed in Trump’s own comments about the report. “It was done last night right after the verdict, where I’m up six points,” Trump said. “Six points from what we already were. We were leading fairly substantially. We’re up six points in the DailyMail poll. Now, maybe other polls come out and it says something differently. But a lot of people have predicted it because the public understands.”
The former president’s fundraising efforts also saw a remarkable surge following the conviction. Within hours of the verdict, Trump’s campaign raised nearly $35 million. Senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles emphasized the overwhelming support from small-dollar donors, stating, “From just minutes after the sham trial verdict was announced, our digital fundraising system was overwhelmed with support, and despite temporary delays online because of the amount of traffic, President Trump raised $34.8 million from small-dollar donors.”
This isn’t the first time Trump’s legal troubles have led to a boost in his popularity. Last year, when he faced four indictments, his poll numbers also improved, showing a pattern of increased support in the face of adversity.
