You're absolutely right. I noticed a very interesting dynamic at the AIPAC conference. In the beginning the audience response was tepid, even when he made strong statements. But as the speech wore on, they seemed to warm to him and even gave him a few standing ovations. That happened in the debates a couple times, esp when the audience was packed with elites.
I think to know Donald is to love him, and most of the people who hate him really don't know him.
The GOP hates him for what he will do to their power, not because he is “too liberal,” but they can’t admit they really want to keep the borders open wide. So, they paint him as this terrible devil. That he can be doing so well in the face of this, frankly, shameful smear job says a lot about him. I’ve seen his composure slip as little when he acknowledges the challenges presented by having $60M+ spent to destroy a single man. We forget sometimes, but he’s only human. Those moments further cement my respect for him.