Donald Trump’s slide in the polls could be a boon for Democrats trying to take back the Senate and for Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s chances of winning back the House.

All Trump needs to do is keep driving down the Republican turnout in states where seats are up for grabs. So far, he’s doing a heck of a job.

I have to say, however, that I’ve had several contacts with Trump over the years and never saw evidence of the lewd talk and alleged predatory sexual behavior that have led to his tumble in the polls.

He was more like Bill Clinton. He would lock onto whoever was in front of him with an intensity that made them feel that they were the only person in the room. Often as not, that person also happened to be attractive.

In fact, in one way, Trump wasn’t into touching.

A few years ago, I was at Wolfgang Puck’s celebrity-packed 50th birthday party in Las Vegas. Trump was there too, greeting everyone effusively and generally having a great time. But I did notice something: He almost never shook anyone’s hand.

It was like he had a germ thing and was afraid of catching something if he touched anyone.

Rose Pak is gone, but her annual golf tournament for the Chinese Hospital went on as planned, taking in about $1.3 million.

Every foursome was booked, and both courses at the Olympic Club were filled. Mayor Ed Lee and I did the auction. The biggest earners were the Wine Country tours, which fetched up to $25,000.

We also got a number of $20,000 bids for Warriors game packages and even 49ers game packages, which proves that people really will give anything for charity.

Movie time: “The Girl on the Train.” This murder mystery is the rare tale that actually challenges your intellectual detective skills. I think it’s well worth seeing, but that may not be a widely shared view: It was just me and one couple in the theater when I caught it at the 10 p.m. show.

So if you want to check it out, maybe you should hurry.

Former political consultant turned real estate magnate, art collector and restaurateur Clint Reilly officially added the title of publisher to his resume Wednesday night when he took over the helm of the Nob Hill Gazette. Reilly, ever a smart man with the dollar and with cross-promotion, held the celebration at his own Julia Morgan Ballroom atop his California Merchant Exchange Building.

Prada, Kiton, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Ferragamo and just about every other high-end clothing line were represented on the 300 swells who showed up.

For the past 30 years, the Gazette has been the “who’s who” of the town’s social set. One’s standings in the annual best-dressed and most eligible bachelor and bachelorette lists are as competitive as any sport. They even have a list of how many times you’ve been mentioned each year.

Clint got up, thanked longtime Publisher Lois Lehrman and talked about how he planned to carry on the proud traditions of the print media. I got up and told Clint that no one actually reads the Gazette — they just look for themselves in the pictures.

I was called in at the last minute to sub for Mayor Ed Lee, who I was told was out of town.

On the way out, I happened to bump into one of the mayor’s security people.

“So Mayor Lee is out of town?” I asked.

The cop nodded.

“Might I ask where?”

“Westlake Joe’s. Daly City.”

City flags are being lowered to half-staff in memory of former Police Commissioner Wayne Friday, who died last week.

Wayne was one of the better bad boys of local politics, someone who could be outraged and laugh at the same time.

Come to think of it, it’s the best way to react to politics in this town.

Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com