Businessmen and Politicians. Not much difference between them when it comes to “self interest”, is there?
Mr. Trump is a successful Businessman. Most politicians are not.
Appealing to the broadest group of voters is the goal of most who are trying to win an election. That is normal, is it not?
The part that doesn't make sense concerning your belief that it would be in his self interest to evolve to the left. A successful businessman can see that the policies of the left are destructive to this country and the productive workers that make it viable. Why would he shift to the left and continue the ruinous policies that have on a path to failure? That doesn't “compute” as far as I'm concerned. It's a given that there are many corporations and other wealthy businessmen who are in bed with the left, but they don't seem to want to peddle their influence directly to the voters like Mr. Trump does (at this time). So, there is a difference, but whether or not it is significant I cannot tell.
I'm sure it's possible, but it really doesn't make much sense, and to turn his back on those who bring him to office would push the country over the cliff.
Of course, anything can happen, but Mr. Trump's self interest would seem to be against the status quo.
In the primary election, Trump has to win a significant number of conservative voters. Once he runs in the general election, he will have to pick up some votes from moderate and undecided voters to win the election - thus it would be in his self interest at that point to sound more moderate. In explaining his past support of Bill Clinton, Trump has admitted that he will say things based on his self interest rather than what he truly believes. So, I am simply saying that since it is in his self interest to say conservative things at the moment can we trust that he really means what he is currently saying. Or is he just saying what we want to hear because that will help him get nominated.