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Donald Trump’s Numbers Are Slipping; More Small Business Aid Hits Congressional Pothole

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Insights and Market Perspectives

Donald Trump’s Numbers Are Slipping; More Small Business Aid Hits Congressional Pothole

Author: Greg Valliere

April 9, 2020

IN A BIND: Donald Trump isn’t responsible for the coronavirus — he’s in uncharted waters — but politics isn’t always fair: Trump’s job rating is slipping, his handling of the crisis is increasingly criticized, and he’s still trailing Joe Biden.

AFTER A POLLING RISE in March, Trump’s approval rating has slid back into the
mid-40s in most polls, a warning sign for any incumbent. And the public believes the
government isn’t doing a good job; the chaotic roll-out of small business aid is a
clear negative.

THE MARATHON PRESS CONFERENCES AREN’T HELPING: They’re filled with self-congratulation and nasty Trump criticism of the media, governors, the World Health Organization, inspector generals, etc. Mike Pence, Tony Fauci and Debra Birx — who have gotten high grades — are less visible; the spotlight is reserved for the combative president.

AND NOW THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THEIR NOMINEE, who leads Trump in virtually every poll. We think Joe Biden, free from sniping on the left, will pivot subtly toward the center. The GOP will charge that Biden is just another big spending socialist but that label doesn’t seem to fit (Biden is vulnerable, however, to charges that he’s lost a step).

IT’S WAY TOO SOON to make a call on the Nov. 3 election. Trump is a ruthless campaigner, and the economy could show signs of improvement by fall, so it’s premature to call him the underdog. But with voters restless over the shutdown — Cabin Fever is rampant — a perception may grow that the government isn’t doing a great job.

BIDEN HAS A CHANCE TO WIN in a campaign that will focus almost entirely on Trump’s track record on the virus; virtually all of the Democrats’ TV ads will target Trump’s dismissive statements (“we only have 15 cases, soon to be one”) and his leadership (“I take no responsibility” for a lack of testing kits). For now we’ll just say that Biden has a plausible path in the Electoral College.
* * * * *
DYSFUNCTIONAL CONGRESS SQUABBLES ON MORE AID: A quick infusion of $250 billion into the sputtering small business assistance effort should win easy approval in the Senate today. Then things may get complicated.

THE DEMOCRATS SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY to add another $250 billion-plus to the package — $100 billion for hospitals, $150 billion for state and local governments, and a 15% increase for food stamps. Republicans aren’t enthusiastic about spending that amount so soon after the $2.2 trillion package passed, but Steve Mnuchin — increasingly respected in both parties — could iron out a compromise.

COMPLICATING THIS EFFORT will be a need to get unanimous consent for any deal; that’s unlikely in the House. Some day, hopefully in our lifetimes, Congress will abandon its antiquated voting rules — nothing wrong with Skype, is there? There will be dissents in the House, which probably will require lawmakers to come back to Washington.

BOTTOM LINE: The fate of small businesses in increasingly perilous; they need money ASAP — yet technical glitches, confusion over lending standards and a need for more money will impede progress in this crucial sector. If Congress wants a V-shaped recovery, it needs to act fast on small business aid.

* * * * *
THE MARKETS ARE CLOSED TOMORROW, and a religious holiday seems very appropriate, doesn’t it? We’ll be back on Monday — good health to you and your families.


The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies.

The views expressed in this blog are provided as a general source of information based on information available as of the date of publication and should not be considered as personal investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy and/or sell securities. Speculation or stated believes about future events, such as market or economic conditions, company or security performance, or other projections represent the beliefs of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in these commentaries at the time of publication; however, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Market conditions may change and AGF accepts no responsibility for individual investment decisions arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein. Any financial projections are based on the opinions of the author and should not be considered as a forecast. The forward looking statements and opinions may be affected by changing economic circumstances and are subject to a number of uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward looking statements. The information contained in this commentary is designed to provide you with general information related to the political and economic environment in the United States. It is not intended to be comprehensive investment advice applicable to the circumstances of the individual.

AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). AGFA and AGFUS are registered advisors in the U.S. AGFI is a registered as a portfolio manager across Canadian securities commissions. AGFIA is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. The subsidiaries that form AGF Investments manage a variety of mandates comprised of equity, fixed income and balanced assets.

About AGF Management Limited

Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. AGF brings a disciplined approach to delivering excellence in investment management through its fundamental, quantitative, alternative and high-net-worth businesses focused on providing an exceptional client experience. AGF’s suite of investment solutions extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and individual investors to institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments and foundations.

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©2022 AGF Management Limited. All rights reserved.

Written by

Greg Valliere

Greg Valliere

Chief U.S. Policy Strategist

AGF Investments

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