Trump’s Coronavirus Problem [OPINION]

When all of this coronavirus madness began in what seems now to be an eternity ago, I warned that a prolonged crisis or a staggering number of deaths could have a detrimental effect on President Donald Trump's re-election bid this fall. Polls are beginning to indicate a potential problem for the president.

Trump was holding his own in most national polls early on with majorities indicating their approval of his handling of the crisis. Those numbers have slipped in the most recent polls conducted for CNN, Monmouth University and Quinnipiac University.

Some of the poll's findings including a feeling that Trump's administration has not been aggressive enough in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and that the administration has not done enough to help the states to deal with the crisis. I think both of these key findings are a sign that people are eager to put all of this behind them and get on with their lives. They want this over.

Though these polls don't deal with concerns about the economy, I'm sure it weighs heavily on the minds of most Americans. Many have lost their jobs or are watching their businesses crumble before their eyes. Trump is right, Americans are not hardwired for sitting idly and are anxious to get back to work. His challenge is to figure out how to do that while not risking public safety.

I still don't believe Trump has much to worry about this fall but he will if he can't move all of this to the next level, and soon.

It's very difficult to fear something you cannot see and since the virus has yet to produce the sort of death and carnage that was advertised, many folks are feeling as though the whole thing might have been oversold.

America needs to get back to business now.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.