Trump: People ‘Are Tired of Weak and Incompetent Leaders’
DICKERSON: “You love polls. You're at the head –“
TRUMP: “I don't love them. I only like them when I'm the number one. By the way, if I wasn't number one, I wouldn't never mention it.”
DICKERSON: “You love polls at the moment. Our latest CBS poll has you in the lead, and it also shows that two-thirds of registered voters, eight in 10 Republicans say you have the strong qualities of leadership. But here's the problem.”
TRUMP: “That's a very big statement.”
DICKERSON: “That's a big statement. Here's another big statement; 60 percent of registered voters say you're not honest and trustworthy. That number has gone up since the last poll.”
TRUMP: “It's better than Hillary.”
DICKERSON: “If they think you're a leader, does it matter if they trust you?”
TRUMP: “I think the leadership is very important. I think they know I'm a very smart guy. I think they know I'm going to fight for the country. I don't need any money. I'm all self-funding. I don't need money. I have turned down millions, tens of millions of dollars from rich lobbyists and rich special interests that want to give me $5 million, $10 million, $2 million. I could have more money than Bush times 15. Now, I actually do have more money than Bush times -- but it's my own money. I'm spending my own money and people respect it. Now, I think I'm leading every poll. I'm leading every poll by a lot. The leadership thing is very important. People are not -- I think, right now, what people want is they want competence. They're tired of other things.”
DICKERSON: “And trust doesn't matter?”
TRUMP: “I think trust is very important. In my opinion, it is very important. And I happen to be an honorable guy. But one thing that is very important, when I go to New Hampshire and Iowa and South Carolina, where I have very good numbers in terms of favorability, you know why? Because I'm there a lot. I go there a lot. And, as you know -- in fact, you reported it -- I went up 60 points in terms of favorability. Somebody said it was a record. That's because when people get to know me, they get to like me.
DICKERSON: “But you have been on center stage for three months. You have been around in center stage for a while.”
TRUMP: “I know, but, locally, those have been the states that I really have spent a lot of time in.”
DICKERSON: “But, again, on favorability in our poll, only 28 percent of voters overall -- and this is -- we're talking about a general election here -- in our poll have a favorable opinion of you.”
TRUMP: “But I win hands down on leadership. Right? By far. It's not even close, double and triple anybody else. That's very important to people now. They wanted leadership. They're tired of having weak and incompetent leaders, John.”
