Trump Leads Clinton By Just 4 Points In Texas, Which Mitt Romney Won By 16

Supporter Dan Patrick Claims Scandal Over GOP Nominee’s Vulgar Remarks Is Already “In The Rear-View Mirror”

If you want to get a sense for the true scope of Donald Trump’s campaign meltdown, look no further than reliably red states where the GOP presidential nominee is struggling mightily. 

In Utah, one recent poll showed Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton in a dead heat with 26 percent each, followed by independent candidate Evan McMullin at 22 percent. Of course, that result is partly due to McMullin’s status as a graduate of Brigham Young University and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

But in Texas, which GOP nominee Mitt Romney won by 16 points in 2012 (and Sen. John McCain won by 12 points in 2008), Trump leads Clinton by only four points, according to the latest poll. That’s within the margin of error for the poll conducted by SurveyUSA between Monday and Wednesday of this week, which found Trump at 47 percent, followed by Clinton at 42 percent, Libertarian Gary Johnson at 3 percent and the Green Party’s Jill Stein at 1 percent. 

“The 4-point margin may be Trump’s smallest lead in Texas yet, but it is not far from what prior polls have found,’ the Texas Tribune reports. “Trump has consistently led Clinton by single digits, including by 7 points in a KTVT-CBS 11/Dixie Strategies Poll released Oct. 5.” 

Meanwhile, a record number of Texans — 15 million — are registered to vote in the Nov. 8 election, the Tribune reports. 

Trump’s most high-profile supporter in Texas, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, remains steadfast despite the GOP nominee’s newly unearthed comments condoning sexual assault. On Wednesday, Patrick claimed the scandal is already “in the rear-view mirror.” 

Of course, a majority of Republicans in Texas also believe that if Trump loses, it will be because the election was “rigged,” and that the state should secede rather than enduring a Clinton presidency.