Politico's Panel of Insiders Think Clinton Will Crush Trump

Politico has assembled a panel of political operatives who are well informed and plugged in and asked them who would win a Clinton-Trump matchup. Nearly 90% said Clinton would win their state, including 76% of the Republicans. In Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, Republican operatives were especially downbeat. An Ohio Republican said Trump would do well in Appalachia and the Mahoning Valley but be killed in the rest of the state, and take Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) down with him. A Florida Republican said: "He couldn't find enough xenophobic, angry white Floridians to beat Hillary in Florida if he tried." Another Florida Republican predicted Clinton would win over 30 states. A New Hampshire Republican said Hillary would win his state in a rout. A North Carolina Republican said not only would Clinton turn North Carolina blue, she would put Roy Cooper (D) in the governor's mansion and quite possibly help Deborah Ross defeat Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC).

The Democrats on the panel were positively giddy at the prospect of a Clinton-Trump race. A Nevada Democrat said that Trump would win some cow counties but be crushed in Las Vegas and Reno. A New Hampshire Democrat is expecting a near-historic blowout. A Colorado Democrat said that for every white male Clinton loses, she'll pick up three suburban Republican women. (V)