Agree that I question Laffer's sense. Reagan took 49 states, and would have taken 50, but Mondale's home state was a pity gimme.
Electorate is way more divided now, and techniques of voter fraud are more advanced.
As to winning comfortably, I dunno. If it's anyone but Bush or Rubio, the GOPe will try to destroy from within. If it IS Bush or Rubio, a lot of people won't vote.
I've never before been a single issue voter, but we're looking at a Germany Sweden situation in the US if we keep getting more Muslims in this country. Too bad Ryan shaved his beard. It was the only way I could tell him from Pelosi.
W won a close race in 2004 with just under 51% and 284 EV’s. I think, barring a catastrophic candidate, a “comfortable” republican win of, say, 52-53% of the vote is possible, considering how big a wreck Hillary is. This uptick in popular vote brings will buoy the electoral vote for our side by a couple of states - I’m guessing Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. That’s about 30 additional EV’s on top of W’s 284.
Either Cruz and Rubio are likely the nominee, both of whom would be viable candidates. As much as the establishment doesn’t like Cruz, and as much as a small portion of the grassroots doesn’t like Rubio, both sides would grin and bear it. If Trump or Jeb are the nominees, however, then it’s a different story.