[skeeter]

He risks alienating independent voters by keeping the focus on of some of his outside-the-mainstream remarks.

I just love it when the leftwing US news media try to tell us what is 'outside the mainstream'.

[Anima Mundi]

Yes, and mainstream does not necessarily mean good or correct. At one point being anti-slavery was out of the mainstream, as was being in favor of women having the right to vote. When the left is way outside of the mainstream then it is seen as bold, daring, modern, avant garde, smart. For example, gay marriage is outside the mainstream, but that does not make it weird or bad from the media’s point of view. Their standard is that if they agree with it, it is good and if they don’t agree with it, it is bad. Really smart and objective journalism.