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Trump re-shuffles campaign members but is it too late?

By Michael Eli Dokosi
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
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Despite a last-minute re-shuffle of his campaign, an academic at the London School of Economics believes the race is almost run for Republican nominee Donald Trump.

In an attempt to arrest sliding support, Trump this week named Steve Bannon, a former investment banker, to the post of chief executive and promoted pollster Kellyanne Conway to campaign manager

But Brian Klaas, a Fellow in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics, told CNBC Friday that Trump may not have enough time to sway voters.

"Early voting starts in the United States in a couple of weeks. So, about a third of all voters will cast their ballots before the day of the election.

"And with race crystallizing at it is now, I think Trump's running out of time to fix a sinking ship," he told CNBC .

He said that Trump is losing his core white male support, crucial to his success.

"That is where Mitt Romney absolutely trounced Obama in 2012 and the gap is closing. He is winning fewer of those voters than Romney won. And that's a huge problem for Trump," he said.

However, Democratic rival Hillary Clinton should not get too comfortable, said Klass, highlighting a lack of connection with much of the American public.

"She's said many times that in the public service aspect of herself, she is much better at the service than the public. And she's not very good in the limelight."

On who has the better plan to growth the American economy, Klass believed Trump's message is suggesting one thing but delivering another.

"The interesting thing about this campaign is that Trump is seen as the populist when in fact his tax plan is a gift to billionaires," said Klass.

The economist said Hilary Clinton's promise to tax the wealthy is a nod to Sanders supporters, but real intent remains uncertain.

"So the question is whether the pandering can really be policy. There have been some U.S. states with increased taxes on the wealthy and if invested smartly they can pay dividends."

cnbc.com

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