Trailing Hillary Clinton in the polls by increasing margins, Donald Trump dug himself a deeper hole with his response to the shootings in Orlando, Fla., this week.

That’s according to The POLITICO Caucus — a panel of activists, strategists and operatives in 10 key battleground states. Large majorities in both parties are convinced Trump struck the wrong chords in his public statements and Twitter posts after a gunman shot and killed 49 people at a gay nightclub early Sunday morning.


A combined 72 percent of GOP insiders said Trump’s response to the incident was “only fair” or “poor” — with nearly half of all Republicans rating it poor. Only 8 percent said Trump’s response was “excellent,” and 20 percent rated it “good.”

Among Democratic insiders, it was virtually unanimous: 99 percent rated Trump’s response as “poor.” The other 1 percent chose “only fair.”

Republicans’ main objection? Trump’s seemingly self-congratulatory tweets in which he said people were giving him credit for predicting the rise of terrorist attacks in the U.S.

“Only an a--hole says ‘I told you so’ the same day 49 people are killed on American soil by a terrorist,” said a New Hampshire Republican, who, like all respondents, completed the survey anonymously. “And only an a--hole would really believe Trump predicted or understood something unique — everyone who knows anything at all about what's happening has warned against the potential terror that can be unleashed by homegrown extremists.”

“This issue should play right into his hand and be devastating against Hillary [Clinton],” added a Pennsylvania Republican, “but Trump made it all about his handling of it and not about the actual national security impact.”

A number of Republicans also cited Trump’s insinuation that President Barack Obama was somehow complicit in the murders.

“This was his chance to be himself and turn this election in his favor, and he instead introduced a new conspiracy theory suggesting the president knew something of the attack before it happened,” an Iowa Republican said. “9/11 and Pearl Harbor-truthers rejoice! Your candidate has arrived!”

Some Republicans were more receptive to Trump’s response, crediting him for his criticism of the Obama administration for its approach to terrorism at home and abroad.

“Better the idiocy of Trump who can at least name the threat than the ignorance and incompetence of Obama/Clinton whose refusal to confront radical Islam puts us all in more danger every day,” said an Ohio Republican.

“He has the right position, but says it completely wrong,” a Florida Republican added. “He doesn't realize that he's in the general election and is still running as if he's in a Republican primary.”

And one New Hampshire Republican gave Trump credit for trying to appeal to the gay community following the attacks — though the Republican faulted his execution.

“He was smart to make a play for the LGBT community — he just shouldn't have been so ham-handed about it,” said the New Hampshire Republican.

A few GOP insiders were unnerved by his suggestion later in the week that he’d be open to discussing tightening the nation’s gun laws.

“First response YES!” exclaimed an Iowa Republican. “Now with his change of heart on guns, I don't know how I feel.”

Another Iowa Republican hated both reactions, however: “A d--- response of ‘I was right,’ now pivoting to support for gun control — denying American citizens due process before taking away constitutional rights.”

The universally negative response from Democratic insiders cited many of the same reasons: Trump’s apparent self-congratulation, and his intimations about Obama’s role.

“Poor doesn't even begin to describe it,” said a Florida Democrat. “Offensive. Wrong. Disqualifying. As a gay man from Florida, who has spent many nights with friends dancing at Pulse, the attack hit very close to home. Before knowing if my friends or family members were among the victims, Donald Trump was making it about himself. While I was praying for those who died, Trump was seeking to divide us rather than heal the nation.”

Ultimately, Trump’s response left some Republican insiders even more despondent about the party’s apparent nominee.

“For those who think Trump is sabotaging himself because he secretly doesn't want to be [president],” said a Colorado Republican, “they will find further evidence in his response to the tragedy in Orlando.”

“I wish there was a category below ‘poor,’” one Virginia Republican said. “Like ‘Unworthy of a Great Republic.’ Or ‘An Embarrassment to All That is Decent and Good.’”

These are the members of The POLITICO Caucus, not all of whom participated in this survey:

Colorado: Ryan Call, Laura Carno, Matt Chandler, Will Coyne, Adam Eichberg, Mark Ferrandino, Cole Finegan, Michael Fortney, Andrew Freedman, Ted Harvey, Craig Hughes, Owen Loftus, Pete Maysmith, Frank McNulty, Karen Middleton, Christopher Murray, BJ Nikkel, Josh Penry, Rick Ridder, Alan Salazar, Janice Sinden, Pat Steadman, Pat Waak, Steve Welchert, Taylor West, Roxane White, Rob Witwer

Florida: Fernand Amandi, Scott Arceneaux, JP Austin, Tim Baker, Dennis K. Baxley, Slater Bayliss, Dave Beattie, Wayne Bertsch, Ron Book, Pamela Burch Fort, Jose Calderon, Kevin Cate, Kelly Cohen, Gus Corbella, Brian Crowley, Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder, Justin Day, Judith Diaz, Nelson Diaz, John Dowless, Ryan Duffy, Jessica Ehrlich, Joe Falk, Alia Faraj-Johnson, Mark Ferrulo, Damien Filer, Marty Fiorentino, Rich Heffley, Nick Iarossi, David Johnson, Eric Johnson, Marian Johnson, Eric Jotkoff, Chris Korge, Jackie Lee, Susan MacManus, Beth Matuga, Fred Menachem, Jon Mills, Joe Mobley, Ben Pollara, Andrea Reilly, Steve Schale, April Schiff, Max Steele, Roger Stone, Richard Swann, Kevin Sweeny, Christian Ulvert, Steve Vancore, Ashley Walker, Andrew Weinstein, Andrew Wiggins, Ryan Wiggins, Rick Wilson

Iowa: Tim Albrecht, Brad Anderson, Rob Barron, Jeff Boeyink, Bonnie Campbell, Dave Caris, Sam Clovis, Jerry Crawford, Sara Craig, John Davis, Steve Deace, John Deeth, Derek Eadon, Ed Failor Jr., Karen Fesler, David Fischer, Ben Foecke, Doug Gross, Steve Grubbs, Tim Hagle, Bob Haus, Joe Henry, Drew Ivers, Jill June, Lori Jungling, Jeff Kaufmann, Brian Kennedy, Jake Ketzner, David Kochel, Chris Larimer, Chuck Larson, Jill Latham, Jeff Link, Dave Loebsack, Mark Lucas, Liz Mathis, Jan Michelson, Chad Olsen, David Oman, Matt Paul, Marlys Popma, Troy Price, Christopher Rants, Kim Reem, Craig Robinson, Sam Roecker, David Roederer, Nick Ryan, Tamara Scott, Joni Scotter, Karen Slifka, John Smith, AJ Spiker, Norm Sterzenbach, John Stineman, Matt Strawn, Charlie Szold, Phil Valenziano, Jessica Vanden Berg, Nate Willems, Eric Woolson, Grant Young

Nevada: Mac Abrams, Greg Bailor, Barbara Buckley, Yvanna Cancela, Bob Cavazos, Linda Cavazos, Jim DeGraffenreid, Andrew Diss, Peter Ernaut, Ryan Erwin, Chip Evans, Jay Gerstema, Oscar Goodman, Ryan Hamilton, Dan Hart, Pat Hickey, Zach Hudson, Jeremy Hughes, Megan Jones, Lindsey Jydstrup, Adam Khan, Peter Koltak, Roberta Lange, Sam Liberman, Laura Martin, Michael McDonald, Chuck Muth, Erven Nelson, Kristen Orthman, Neal Patel, Nick Phillips, Jon Ralston, Andres Ramires, Emmy Ruiz, Scott Scheid, Mike Slanker, James Smack, Paul Smith, Jack St. Martin, Mari St. Martin, Daniel Stewart, Brendan Summers, Riley Sutton, Robert Uithoven, Michelle White, Ed Williams, Heidi Wixom

New Hampshire: Charlie Arlinghaus, Arnie Arnesen, Patrick Arnold, Rich Ashooh, Dean Barker, Juliana Bergeron, D.J. Bettencourt, Michael Biundo, Ray Buckley, Peter Burling, Jamie Burnett, Debby Butler, Dave Carney, Jackie Cilley, Catherine Corkery, Corriveau, Fergus Cullen, Lou D'Allesandro, James Demers, Mike Dennehy, Sean Downey, Steve Duprey, JoAnn Fenton, Jennifer Frizzell, Martha Fuller Clark, Amanda Grady Sexton, Jack Heath, Gary Hirshberg, Jennifer Horn, Peter Kavanaugh, Joe Keefe, Rich Killion, Harrell Kirstein, Sylvia Larsen, Joel Maiola, Kate Malloy Corriveau, Maureen Manning, Steve Marchand, Tory Mazzola, Jim Merrill, Jayne Millerick, Claira Monier, Greg Moore, Matt Mowers, Terie Norelli, Chris Pappas, Liz Purdy, Tom Rath, Colin Reed, Jim Rubens, Andy Sanborn, Dante Scala, William Shaheen, Stefany Shaheen, Carol Shea-Porter, Terry Shumaker, Andy Smith, Craig Stevens, Kathy Sullivan, Chris Sununu, James Sununu, Jay Surdukowski, Donna Sytek, Kari Thurman, Colin Van Ostern, Deb Vanderbeek, Mike Vlacich, Ryan Williams

North Carolina: Don Davis, Francis X. De Luca, Anita Earls, Jonathan Felts, Tami L. Fitzgerald, Dylan Frick, Taylor Griffin, Robin Hayes, Morgan Jackson, Patsy Keever, Theresa Kostrzewa, Michael Luethy, Ray Martin, Thomas Mills, Melissa L. Reed, Chris Sgro, Paul Shumaker, Dee Stewart, Brad Thompson, Bruce Thompson, Charlie Wallin, Doug Wilson

Ohio: Jerry Austin, Greg Beswick, Matt Borges, Erica Bruton, Tim Burke, Janet Carson, Jai Chabria, Martha Clark, Bob Clegg, Damareo Cooper, Jo Ann Davidson, Michael Dawson, Bill DeMora, Cindy Demse, Kathy Dicristofaro, Katie Eagan, Michael Gonidakis, Wes Goodman, Joe Hallett, Ian James, Melissa Klide Hedden, David Leland, Nick Martin, Rhine McLin, David Pepper, Molly Shack, Mark R. Weaver

Pennsylvania: Chris Borick, Larry Ceisler, Valentino DiGiorgio, Jason Ercole, Dan Fee, Charlie Gerow, Marcel Groen, Leslie Gromis Baker, Mark Harris, Nan McLaughlin, Aubrey Montgomery, Christopher Nicholas, Nachama Soloveichik, David Sosar, Todd Stephens, Doc Sweitzer, David Thornburgh, Ray Zaborney

Virginia: Ray Allen, Sandra Brandt, Marc K. Broklawski, Patsy Brown, Janet Carver, John Cosgrove, Brian Coy, Doris Crouse-Mays, Tom Davis, Julie Dime, Abbi Easter, Mike Farris, John Findlay, Joe Fitzgerald, Sean Harrison, Margo Horner, Robert Hurt, Gaylene Kanoyton, Chris LaCivita, Sue Langley, Frank Leone, Robert G. Marshall, Tucker Martin, Ed Matricardi, Susan J. Rowland, Peter Snyder, Susan Swecker, Jo Thoburn

Wisconsin: Meg Andrietsch, Mary Arnold, Kevin Barthel, Mike Basford, Rebecca Bonesteel, Barry Burden, Terri Burl, Jim Camery, Patrick Guarasci, Robert Hansen, Gary Hawley, Marian Krumberger, Emily Nehring, Jason Rae, Brandon Scholz, John Zapfel

Kristen Hayford contributed to this report.