His response was to work nearly 24/7 to build a trust with a base of nationalist and conservative supporters. He did this by taking on an important and controversial issue - illegal immigration, and being the only candidate to support law enforcement while his rivals were debating the best way to give illegals amnesty. He was also unafraid to defy the party elites on trade and foreign policy issues. The fact that he was a fighter willing to stand up to both liberal Democrats and establishment Republicans is what gave him "street cred."
In spite of being a billionaire and a celebrity, candidate Trump showed genuine humility and respect towards his supporters. He knew that he had to earn our respect and trust, and so he did and continues to by trying his best to fulfill campaign promises. This is in sharp contrast to the arrogance of candidates like Clinton and Bush, who think that their family name, connections, and the workings of the political machine entitle them to high office.
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