Donald Trump clearly connected with Republican primary voters in a way that the professional consultants, Washington insiders and political class struggled to comprehend. Now he is connecting with average Americans and his success is sending Democrats into shock.

During a speech [Wednesday] in Canton, Ohio, Trump hit Hillary Clinton hard for her “basket of deplorables” comment and for her globalist instincts. He again promised to campaign for every vote in any community, and he blasted the Democrats’ neglect of our inner cities. Trump vowed to create jobs by rebuilding our cities, making America great again and uniting us once again.

Here are a few excerpts of his remarks:

“The people of the United States are ready for change. They’re ready to discard a failed political establishment that disdains, disrespects and looks down on hardworking people…

"There is no greater example of this in our country than Flint, Michigan. The city of Flint was once known as Buick City. More than 80,000 workers were employed by GM in 1970 — today, it’s less than 8,000. Forty percent of the city’s residents are living in poverty. Violent crime is among the nation’s highest.

"Today I went to Flint, Michigan to address the water crisis… This is the catastrophe that happens when we build up other countries instead of our own. It used to be cars were made in Flint and you couldn’t drink the water in Mexico. Now, the cars are made in Mexico and you can’t drink the water in Flint…

"Democratic politicians have run our inner cities for 50, 60, 70 years. Their policies have produced massive poverty, joblessness, and failing schools…

"Now, I understand there are going to be some people in these communities who aren’t planning on voting for me right now. I will campaign hard for their votes — we can’t stay the course our country is on. If you keep voting for the same people, you’ll keep getting the same results.

"I am willing to campaign anywhere. I am willing to go anywhere, visit anywhere, even if some voters openly oppose me in a community I will go there and ask them for their support.

"Hillary Clinton calls people who aren’t supporting her deplorable and irredeemable. I call people who aren’t supporting me American citizens who are entitled to the same respect as anyone else — and I will not stop campaigning for every last American vote, in every last American community, right up until November 8th…

"Hillary Clinton believes in globalism — taking jobs from Flint and moving them to other countries. I am not running to be President of the world — I am running to be President of the United States…

"We will rebuild our roads, bridges, tunnels, highways, airports, schools and hospitals. We will rebuild our water infrastructure, and our EPA will abandon political agendas and focus on its core mission: clean air and safe water.

"American cars will travel the roads, American planes will soar in the skies, and American ships will patrol the seas. American steel will send new skyscrapers into the clouds.

"American hands will rebuild this nation — and American energy, mined from American sources, will power this nation. American workers will be hired to do the job.

"We will put new American steel into the spine of this country.

"I will fight for every neglected part of this nation — and I will fight to bring us all together as one American people!”

I have often complained that too many Republicans talk like accountants. Marginal tax rates and entitlement reform are important issues, but they don’t inspire anyone.

Making cars in Flint and not in Mexico… Not running to be president of the world but of America… Putting American steel into the spine of our country… That’s how you connect with Middle America. That is what Donald Trump gets.

Poll Position

The American people are responding to Trump’s message (and to Hillary’s latest troubles). Virtually every poll this week has shown significant movement in Trump’s direction.

The latest Quinnipiac poll has Clinton up two points. But in last month’s Quinnipiac poll she was up seven points.

The latest CBS/New York Times poll has Trump and Clinton tied at 42%.

The latest Rasmussen poll has Trump leading by two points — 42% to 40%.

The Los Angeles Times daily tracking poll has Trump up six points — 47% to 41%.

Of course, as I have noted before, the White House is won not by a national vote, but by a series of state elections that determine the result in the Electoral College. So it is important to watch the polls in key states too.

No Republican in modern history has won the White House without carrying Florida and Ohio. A new CNN poll finds Trump is leading in Florida by three points and in Ohio by five points. New polls also show Trump leading narrowly in Colorado and Nevada.

If Trump carries every state Romney won four years ago, plus Florida and Ohio, he would have 253 Electoral College votes. That means he would only be 17 short of winning the White House.

To prevail, he could win by carrying just Pennsylvania with its 20 Electoral College votes (ECV). Or with some combination of smaller states such as Colorado (9 ECV), Iowa (6 ECV) and Nevada (6 ECV).

And if Trump manages to breakout in a serious way — with a strong debate performance or if another Clinton scandal erupts onto the front pages — he could dramatically expand the political map by putting other states — Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia — into play.

Trump’s Big Get

There has been a lot of news lately, but there was one major development that took place a few days ago that I want to make sure you know about.

On Monday, James Woolsey — Bill Clinton’s CIA Director — endorsed Donald Trump and joined the campaign as a senior advisor.

Woolsey is someone I know quite well. He is one of the best foreign policy minds in Washington, D.C., and has devoted significant efforts in recent years to making America energy independent. His endorsement of Trump, who is often knocked for his alleged ignorance of foreign affairs, is a huge development.

In a statement released by the Trump campaign, Director Woolsey said:

“I have been a ‘Scoop Jackson,’ ‘Joe Lieberman,’ Democrat all of my adult life, but I am pleased to be asked to participate with others I respect in advising GOP candidate Donald J. Trump on the urgent need to reinvest in and modernize our military in order to confront the challenges of the 21st century.

"Trump’s commitment to reversing the harmful defense budget cuts signed into law by the current administration … is an essential step toward reinstating the United States’ primacy in the conventional and digital battlespace.

"Based on the emails thus far released we know that Secretary Clinton also lacks the ability to lead her senior managers while complying with and maintaining the basic protocols designed to protect our government’s sensitive and classified information. Trump understands the magnitude of the threats we face and is holding his cards close to the vest.”