A key argument against taking Donald Trump's candidacy seriously is evaporating

Business Insider ^ | 1 hour ago 10/11/15 | Maxwell Tani

[entropy12]

Donald Trump's continued dominance of the Republican presidential field has confounded many top pollsters and analysts since he soared to the top of the field in July. And a new poll shows that Trump may not be finished surprising them yet.

A CBS poll released on Sunday found Trump largely in the same position he has been in most major polls in the last several months: on top.

The real-estate mogul again led the pack, with 27% of likely Republican primary voters picking him as their preferred nominee as of today.

[lovesdogs]

Thank you for that. I was wondering about that time line and too busy / lazy to do the research.

[spokeshave]

Why the media ALWAYS posts pictures showing Trump with a menacing face?

Because he is yelling

PAN THE D@MN CAMERAS

[COBOL2Java]

This Trump worship is getting weird, like Obama worship in ‘08.

I will assume you are being overly melodramatic. I don't see any Trump supporters kneeling at his passing SUV hoping for a blessing.

---

You DO know what the word "worship" means, don't you?

I will grant you there may be some here that are leading with their emotions vis-a-vis the Trump campaign, but most of us are calmly watching and enjoying the spectacle, smiling at what he is doing to the sclerotic inside-the-beltway, old-boy GOPe shove-Jeb-down-our-throats way of running the 2016 Presidential nomination process. Many in that subgroup actually support Cruz. Others aren't supporting any candidate - yet, knowing the season is early. So please; we do NOT "worship" Trump.

[Cold Heat]

Yeah, I keep seeing all these combination second, third and fourth fiddle jobs for cruz in a trump administration..

So that’s supposed to be a compromise?

I doubt Cruz wants any of those positions. He’s running for president.

Frankly, with Donald being much more of a moderate politically, I would imagine that conservatives are not really what he would be looking for to appoint.

Secondly, I very seriously doubt Cruz could get through any nomination process in the Senate..They can’t stand him and for good reason. He has exposed their crony capitalist underbelly.

I’ll see what happens after the primaries and Convention.

Then I will make the call as to where my support goes, or if it’s withheld. The only difference I see between Trump and the series of establishment republicans we have been forced to hold our nose and vote for is that Trump is not a establishment candidate.

That’s not enough for me to support him, nor it the fact that he needs no money a factor. If trump was Cruz in a business suit, I would support him, but he’s not.

[yuleeyahoo]

Maybe someday they will realize it’s not about Trump, but the numerous betrayals of the Republican Party.

[SamAdams76]

Here's a link to a news article from that time that has some good info.

It's dated October 25, 2011 and shows the trend of the candidates over the previous four weeks.

For example, Perry dropped from 23% in mid-September to 6% by this time. This was due to his major debate gaffe when he could not remember the three departments he was claiming to want to eliminate should he get in office.

Michelle Bachman went from 7% in mid-September to 2% and would shortly drop out.

Cain, Romney and Gingrich were the only candidates polling 10% or better at that time. Gingrich would briefly surge as the "anti-Romney" after Cain's hasty departure from the scene, but Romney would never drop below 21% again. All the other candidates in the race (Santorum, Bachman, Perry, Ron Paul, Huntsman) were basically finished at this point. Though Santorum would have a brief moment of glory in the Iowa Caucus and Ron Paul would have a strong 2nd place showing in New Hampshire, they never had a serious chance.

[SamAdams76]

Point being, four years ago, we were already down to three serious candidates - Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.

While the mainstream media will never admit it, there's only three serious candidates left today: Trump; Carson and Cruz.

[SatinDoll]

Rasmussen Reports has Donald Trump is at 58% among Republicans.

[Cold Heat]

Yes, but the definition of that is knee jerk.

It’s the same sort of emotionalism that elected Obama twice.

[COBOL2Java]

Maybe someday they will realize it’s not about Trump, but the numerous betrayals of the Republican Party.

Some, perhaps, but for the majority of the inside-the-beltway GOPe bastards, it's eyes wide shut. All they care about is amassing power and the gravy train.

[Cold Heat]

That seems to be about right....

From my own observations..

[COBOL2Java]

I can agree with that.

[erod]

I’m not sure if Carson is a serious candidate I have a gut feeling that he I going to get scorched in the primaries.

[ifinnegan]

Trump worship (he’s the perfect man) is getting a bit like the Obama worship.

My comment was, it’s a good sign.

I think any worship of any politician is weird, but it is indicative of winning.

If people want to go overboard on a candidate I can support, it’s OK by me.

[ncpatriot]

Yes, our politicians have betrayed us. Also, they go to DC with maybe $500,000 to their name; then leave office ten yrs later with five million.

[CodeToad]

Several times a week the eGOP and Democrats proclaim Trump is done...then he goes and fills another stadium.

These guys are idiots. Time we tossed them out with the trash.

[Lopeover]

I like it!

[COBOL2Java]

I would respectfully disagree. Worship of a politician on a mass scale can be dangerous. Supporters need to lead with their heads, not their emotions. In our age especially, with the abject failure of the education system to inculcate critical thinking skills, it becomes a slippery slope.

[Finny]

"Trump haters" -- maybe some people who doubt Trump's abilities and promises "hate" him.

I think Trump is a sincere American patriot. I love sincere patriots, so it's safe to conclude that I am a Trump lover. I also think CA governor Jerry Brown is a sincere American patriot. I love the man, though I hate the man's politics.

A lot of sincere American patriots enthusiastically supported Barack Obama in 2008. Trump was one of them.

A lot of sincere American patriots love former DNC Chairman and campaign director for both Bill and Hillary Clinton, Terry McAuliffe.

Trump was one of them only two years ago.

I love Trump. I HATE that he has zero political compass yet people are so willing to attribute "conservative" political qualities to a charismatic patriotic celebrity billionaire who 16 years ago openly advocated for universal health care and praised Canada's model.

I hate that people are so inclined to invest conservative hopes in a fellow patriot who 7 years ago enthusiastically supported Obama, and 2 years ago supported Clinton toadie Terry McAuliffe and helped him become governor of Virginia.

Anyone who thinks my recognition of Trump's extreme weakness in terms of political compass makes me a "Trump hater" needs a slap upside the head.

[SatinDoll]

Imagine what the percentage would be if they included Independents and Democrats?

Can you say landslide?