Arcane and practically meaningless concept ( unless we're talking about committed electors, but even then ...).
Consider a simple proof - you're a Cruz supporter and he bails and throws his support' to Bush, or ~gasp~ Trump. Would you automatically follow his advice? Talking heads like Rove make their living adding up the percentages that this and that guy 'has' and calculate what-if scenarios and inevitably end up scratching their whiteboards and their heads until they're bald when they are surprised at yet another loss. Rove and his assumptions
Such concepts are truly offensive because these so-called leaders consider us 'followers', possessions they control. I'm no follower and I have no leader. We're not pawns on their whiteboards.
Most importantly, the squishy middle of blue collar taxpayers, retirees, and others that often sit out elections but periodically show up in populist waves are the least predictable. Long story short, don't count on anything this cycle. In fact, if Trump bailed it would quite probably severely depress enthusiasm of those he has excited and hand the election to the bad guys. So truly he is in a d*mned if you do/don't situation and will be blamed for a loss in any possible outcome - except if he won.
Actually it isn't. It's pretty simple, unless you're trying to unnecessarily complicate things.
"Consider a simple proof - you're a Cruz supporter and he bails and throws his support' to Bush, or ~gasp~ Trump. Would you automatically follow his advice?"
I wouldn't do it, period. I think for myself. But for some, endorsement by a favored politician means everything.
" Talking heads like Rove make their living adding up the percentages that this and that guy 'has' and calculate what-if scenarios and inevitably end up scratching their whiteboards and their heads until they're bald when they are surprised at yet another loss. Rove and his assumptions Such concepts are truly offensive because these so-called leaders consider us 'followers', possessions they control. I'm no follower and I have no leader. We're not pawns on their whiteboards."
The sad truth is that some of us are followers. All you have to do is look at the devotion to Trump that's developed, in spite of his liberal history. All that matters is what he says, and you'd better not attack the savior of the country.
"Most importantly, the squishy middle of blue collar taxpayers, retirees, and others that often sit out elections but periodically show up in populist waves are the least predictable. Long story short, don't count on anything this cycle. In fact, if Trump bailed it would quite probably severely depress enthusiasm of those he has excited and hand the election to the bad guys. So truly he is in a d*mned if you do/don't situation and will be blamed for a loss in any possible outcome - except if he won."
He's a liberal Democrat. Depressed enthusiasm is much preferable to having him in the White House---and worse, elected by conservatives.