” was defeated by Donald Trump, a reality television star who had never before run for office”
He’d had dry-runs in previous election cycles.
Once Trump built his real estate empire, he needed to make his brand a household word among more than the people who bragged about staying in one of his hotels or living in one of his condos or eating in one of his restaurants or visiting one of his resorts or playing on one of his golf courses.
He used ownership in beauty contests, connections with wrestling, prize fighting and finally, the ownership, production and starring role in a business-themed reality show. He always made sure his name was on his accomplishments and, in the TV shows, he was also the star. To underscore it all, he wrote books that put forth his philosophy.
By 2014, everyone knew who he was, what he stood for and had watched his management style up close and personal. It was then simply a matter of finding a political vehicle.
He made himself the issue/subject at every turn. The American people knew who he was, probably more so than any candidate ever before.
He’s been running for this position for a long time. He’s succeeded at every facet of his life, even triumphing after spectacular and very public financial failure. He ran the table in the primaries because he understood his opponents and the American people, while the opposition didn’t understand the essential Trump, The Winnah, or the American people.
We understood him because he he made sure of it. And he made doubly sure we had no illusions about any of the other candidates or any past or present office holder.
The story is, when he consulted Melania on his run, she told him to remember that he would win. He always has and he always does. He’s been running for over a decade.