Teflon Don is riding again, according to an exclusive poll for DailyMail.com, which found the guilty verdict in Manhattan only improved the former president’s reputation among likely voters ahead of the 2024 election.
Of those who said the 34 guilty parties had changed their view of Donald Trump, 22 percent said they now viewed him more favorably, compared to 16 percent who said they viewed him more negatively.
That six-point net positive is a sign of how the businessman-turned-politician seems able to weather crises that would sink anyone else.
In a close election, it could be enough to get him across the finish line.
“I think it was a waste of taxpayer money and it will help propel Trump to a victory,” said a 42-year-old hip-hop DJ from Illinois who voted for Joe Biden in 2020.
JL Partners surveyed 403 likely voters immediately after Thursday’s guilty verdict to assess its impact on the November election. The results suggest a slight increase for Trump
In particular, the numbers show a net positive impact of four points among independent voters, the group that could decide who will be the next president in November.
At the same time, the Trump campaign said there had been a massive fundraising drive in the hours after the ruling, bringing in $34.8 million from small donors — nearly double the daily record haul.
Our poll was conducted in the hours after a Manhattan District Court jury foreman returned 34 guilty verdicts.
JL Partners used an online panel of 400 potential voters to assess the impact on the election.
Respondents were asked to explain their opinions.
Not surprisingly, many Trump fans labeled the trial a “sham” or a “witch hunt,” using the candidate’s own language.
But many people who voted for him in 2020 said they were shocked by what was said about the man.
“For a Republican like me, it’s all very embarrassing,” said a retired electrician in North Carolina, one of the battleground states. “It’s like finding out your sister is a prostitute.”
By contrast, 2020 Joe Biden supporter in the swing state of Arizona said, “I just think it was a railroad job, even though I’m not a fan of Trump. It’s completely ridiculous.’
Donald Trump raises his fists in the air as he returns to Trump Tower on Thursday evening
Trump supporters cried outside the courthouse after the guilty verdict was handed down
No former president or presumptive party candidate has ever faced a felony conviction or the prospect of prison time. It takes the nation into uncharted territory.
James Johnson, who conducted the poll, said Trump may wake up as a convicted felon, but he’s winning over voters who matter.
Our rapid poll of a representative sample of likely voters shows that for most Americans, the trial has not changed their deeply held view of Trump,” he said.
‘But among those who are open to changing their minds, people feel more positive by a margin of 6 points. That is outside the poll’s margin of error and we say it is significant.
“It also applies to independent voters. Look at the statements and it’s clear why: people feel it was a politically motivated trial and see Trump as a “fighter” against what they see as injustice.
‘We will see in the coming days and weeks how this translates into the voting intention polls. But judging by this poll, we may not see much change in the fundamentals of this race.”
But Trump’s campaign and allies had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days.
They have repeatedly dismissed the hush-money prosecution as political and as a ‘kangaroo court’.
The Trump campaign believes that most people were turned away from coverage of the trial and that voters were more concerned about the economy and their bank accounts than about allegations of forged invoices and ledger entries.
Donald Trump listens to the jury foreman handing down the guilty verdict
Trump’s opponents celebrated the outcome outside the courthouse
“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,” Trump said Thursday after leaving court.
“The real judgment will fall by the people on November 5.”
Last year, Trump saw his ranking improve in the polls with each of the four criminal charges.
His mug shot in Fulton County, Georgia became a key part of the fundraising and merchandise push.
Still, the verdict seemed to come as a shock.
Court was wrapping up Thursday and the jury was about to be sent home when she handed a note to the court saying the verdict was ready.
Trump had spent his speech in the company of lawyers, aides and friends, including developer Steve Witkoff.
As he returned to the courtroom, awaiting the verdict, he chatted with lead defense attorney Todd Blanche, as if unconcerned that his fate had been decided.
But he looked deflated as he left the court, his head slightly bowed. He briefly hit son Eric’s hand.
His campaign quickly took action, with a flurry of fundraising emails. Employees reported a flood of contributions that crashed WinRed, the platform it uses to raise money.
“From just minutes after the mock trial ruling was announced, our digital fundraising system was overwhelmed with support, and despite temporary delays online due to traffic, President Trump raised $34.8 million from small donors,” said Chris LaCivita and Susie . Wiles, senior advisers to the Trump campaign.
“Not only was the amount historic, but 29.7 percent of yesterday’s donors were brand new donors to the WinRed platform.”
