The Note: As The Donald Doubles Down, Favorability Doubles Up

ByABC News
July 15, 2015, 9:26 AM

— -- NOTABLES

--POSITIVE VIEWS OF DONALD TRUMP HAVE DOUBLED SINCE HIS CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS ON IMMIGRATION, although many more Americans still dislike rather than like him, now by nearly a 2-1 margin - and his negatives have soared among Hispanics, a sought-after group in national politics. Thirty-three percent of Americans see Trump favorably; that's doubled from 16 percent in a pre-candidacy ABC News/Washington Post poll in late May. Sixty-one percent see him unfavorably, down from 71 percent but still leaving him deeply under water in popularity overall, according to ABC's GREG HOLYK. http://abcn.ws/1I0vuyJ

--TRUMP'S NOT ALONE WITH POPULARITY CHALLENGES: While Republican fundraising leader Jeb Bush has gained some ground, just 38 percent of Americans see him favorably - a scant 5 points more than Trump's rating - while 47 percent rate Bush unfavorably. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton's favorability rating has improved to a majority after a sustained fall from her heights as secretary of state. The much less well-known Bernie Sanders, while drawing crowds on the campaign trail, gets a split decision, 27-28 percent. Trump's positive ratings are up very sharply among Republicans and strong conservatives, by 34 and 30 points, to 57 and 55 percent, respectively. He's also gained 26 points among seniors and 24 points among whites, to 38 and 42 percent in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates. http://abcn.ws/1I0vuyJ

--FIFTY-TWO PERCENT SEE CLINTON FAVORABLY, up 7 points from late May, while 45 percent see her negatively - putting her popularity back above water, if not broadly so. The result reverses a 22-point drop in favorability from her peak in January 2013. Clinton's improved the most since May among minorities, including Hispanics (up 17 points) and blacks (+12 points), as well as a mix of other groups, including Northeasterners (+16), "somewhat" conservatives (+14) and young adults (+12). http://abcn.ws/1I0vuyJ

TODAY ON THE TRAIL with ABC's CHRIS GOOD: Scott Walker has appeared in Charleston, S.C. at the Low Country Harley-Davidson, an event that began at 7:30 a.m. ET. Later, he'll appear in Lexington at Hudson's Smokehouse BBQ at 10:45 am ET and Mutt's BBQ in Mauldin at 1:45 pm ET. He'll then travel to Atlanta, where he'll appear at the Buckhead Club at 6:30 pm ET. Chris Christie will be in Annapolis for a "special announcement event" at the Double T Diner at 10 am ET. Rick Santorum will be in Iowa, where he'll attend an employee forum at Jackson Manufacturing in Maquoketa at 2 pm ET. Later, he'll tour the Clinton County Fair in DeWitt at 4 pm ET, attend a dinner roundtable at McOtto's Family Restaurant in Anamosa at 6:30 pm ET and another town-hall at Tipton Family Restaurant in Tipton at 8:30 pm ET. Lindsey Graham will be in New Hampshire, where he'll speak at City Hall on "protecting the early primary state" at 2:30 pm ET.

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