President Trump touted Tiger Woods’ high ratings while enjoying his own in a Rose Garden ceremony celebrating the golf legend’s victory in the Masters Tournament last month. Before presenting Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Trump described how this year’s Masters broke TV viewer records.
“I don’t know if you know about that, Tiger,” he said. “Record-setting ratings.”
The president’s own ratings recently received a bump, with a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showing that his job approval rating stands at 46% of Americans, and some 51% approve of his handling of the economy. If the economy remains buoyant, his election strategists see a path to victory next year.
In the meantime, the president is taking advantage of his poll numbers and the end of the investigation by Robert Mueller into Russia and the 2016 election, which together leave him freer to tackle pet projects, such as overhauling the immigration system, or to enjoy the company of athletes at the White House.
[Related: Trump approval reaches record high in Gallup poll]
“You’re going to see more of that,” said John McLaughlin, a New York-based pollster who has worked with Trump since he mulled running in 2011.
McLaughlin said he was cautious of surveys that tracked all Americans, as the WSJ/NBC poll did, rather than likely voters. But with that caveat, the numbers suggested a higher ceiling for Trump’s support than many commentators are willing to concede.
He is one of the 2016 pollsters who have joined a reelection effort that will target about 10%-15% of voters. By his reckoning, about 40%-45% don’t like Trump or his policies. “We’re never going to get those voters.” A similar number are already on board whatever happens next.
That leaves a persuadable chunk who dislike Trump and his Twitter habits but who like the prosperity and security he brings, says McLaughlin.
[Opinion: How Trump’s approval rating will shape the 2020 Democratic primaries]
The target is to nudge Trump’s approval ratings to 51%, the magic number that was enough to secure reelection for President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.
“When a Republican gets elected, it is usually on a platform of peace and prosperity,” he said. “This president has really done a very good job in terms of the economy and security.”
A lot can still happen, he cautions, especially with the Democrats a long way from picking their candidate. The stock market dipped in recent days amid fears of a renewed trade war with China, and the Democrats remain intent on raking over the embers of the Mueller report.
But confidants of the president say a cloud has lifted.
“I think the darkness has gone with the phoniness of the whole Russian collusion strategy of the Democrats. The counter-punching of the president has gone with that,” said one of the businessmen on the president’s late-night call list, who asked to speak on background only.
The president appeared relaxed during the award ceremony for Woods. He took the Rose Garden audience through a history of the highs and lows of Woods’ career before describing the perfect shape of his tee shot on the 16th at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia last month, which set up a birdie and a historic comeback victory.
[Related: How Tiger changed his stripes]
Earlier that day, Trump stood in the same spot with the U.S. Military Academy football team, inviting players to take the microphone and joshing with their coaches.
Expect more events like this, McLaughlin predicts, such as the visit of NASCAR champion Joey Logano or the reception for the Boston Red Sox World Series team.
“Look at what he did with the Army football team, Tiger Woods. That’s the president I know, the person I know,” said McLaughlin. “He can be a very gracious and positive force.”
