Posted on 07/29/2015 1:41:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Heading into the final days of July, it seems clear that not only is Donald Trump not going away, hes increasing in support day by day. Logically, some are starting to ask, Can Trump win? Pat Buchanan wrote a column arguing that it could happen.
Buchanan thinks Trump touches all the right nerves in politics today, a man who mocks the political establishment of both parties and is loathed by the mainstream media. The more they discount him, the higher his poll numbers rise.
Buchanan doesnt claim that Trump will win, but says unless Donald commits some kind of egregious error, hell at least be around long enough to make it interesting. If his poll numbers hold, Trump will be there six months from now when the Sweet 16 is cut to the Final Four, and he will likely be in the finals. For if Trump is running at 18 or 20 percent nationally then, among Republicans, it is hard to see how two rivals beat him.
Trumps poll numbers are indeed impressive, as a recent survey in New Hampshire indicates. Trumps lead has stretched to 12 points over his nearest rival, and further, it appears that his comments on John McCain have not undermined his popularity in the Granite State (of course, McCain won there in 2000 and 2008).
For another perspective on Trumps war of words with John McCain, try G. Murphy Donovans piece at American Thinker. Donovan, a fellow Vietnam veteran, writes, The difference between Trump and McCain should be obvious to any fair observer; Trump has done something with his talents. McCain, in contrast, is coasting on a military myth and resting on the laurels of Senatorial tenure.
At least McCain isnt running for president again. We can be thankful for that.
Rand Paul is one of those who is running, but Erick Erickson at RedState wonders why Paul is missing in action. Erickson notes that Paul isnt raising any money and is largely missing out on key news cycles. Erickson thinks its because Pauls made some bad hires.
Paul has drawn to his side a group of campaign consultants and advisors who seem to be doing well for themselves, but I have to wonder if they are doing well for their candidate.
Its not too late, but Paul better pull out of the tailspin soon.
One candidate whos most definitely not in a tailspin is Ted Cruz. Cruzs poll numbers perhaps do not reflect his visibility and his recent throw-down with Mitch McConnell over the failure of the Republican establishment and party leadership will likely win him more support with the conservative voting base.
David M. Drucker at the Washington Examiner writes, Even before the rise of Donald Trump, the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination was a bull market for Washington-bashing that in past years might have been deemed excessive.
Cruz is too principled to speak out for political benefit alone after all, hes done it his entire political career at all levels but furthering his reputation as a populist wont hurt his larger campaign, despite what the consultants might say.
One candidate who would seem to be completely consultant-driven is Jeb Bush, who said in Spanish during an interview with Telemundo that he was hurt personally by Donald Trumps comments about Mexican immigrants.
In addition to the pain Bush felt, he added that his family eats Mexican food and speaks Spanish at home (Bushs wife Columba is Mexican, after all).
As if trying to prove he has no principled and ideological foundation, Bush is embracing the very kind of identity politics often employed by Obama, Hillary Clinton and most Democrats.
Jeb also questioned the language spoken by Mike Huckabee in reference to Obamas awful deal with Iran, saying Huckabee should watch his tone. Huckabee responded by saying we need a Churchill, not a Chamberlain.
Finally, Bush and Huckabee look like safe bets to be at the first debate next week, but theres controversy ahead to decide who will fill out the final two spots on stage.
According to Jonathan Easley at The Hill:
Fox News is capping the Aug. 6 debate in Cleveland at 10 candidates based on five as-of-yet unspecified national polls released by 5 p.m. on Aug. 4. Based on five polls used by RealClearPolitics (RCP), eight candidates look like locks to make the stage, while the race for the final two slots is headed for a controversial photo finish. For the candidates currently ranked between ninth place and 14th place, the polling differential is negligible.
That group includes Chris Christie, John Kasich, Rick Perry, Carly Fiorina, Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal, all within 1.5 points of each other according to Real Clear Politics.
(Note: Lindsey Graham and George Pataki are polling at near-zero. They wont be there. No one will notice anyway.)
For those left on the outside, however, Fox will hold a one-hour forum earlier in the day.
There will be plenty of griping
but will it help any of them?
Interesting take...
Many on here tell us Cruz is finished...
Awesome post! Thanks!
With $100 million in the bank? Newt, Sweater Vest and Huckleberry didn’t have that much, combined, and they hung on to the bitter end and came **this** close to beating Milt.
I agree. Just pointing out the flaw with these people who are crowning Trump and writing off Cruz...
Cruz will surprise many
“Looks like the dough is with Cruz, Trump, and Bush.
Theyre the most likely to slog to finish line.”
Remove the Loser Bush from the equation and one has a winning ticket.
Cruz vs Biden in a debate would be a landslide for Biden. Biden makes up stuff that can’t be countered unless Cruz has access to a smartphone during the debate.
One thing many Mississippians need to learn is that there are many incumbent politicians to whom the NRA A+ rating is more important than the Second Amendment itself. We need to look at their entire voting record and who they support for leadership. When we get enough 2A progressives elected we’ll lose the Second Amendment and everything else. Time to dump those Congressmen and Senators who support Boehner, McConnell, K street, the US Chamber regardless of their NRA rating and and also those in Mississippi who are part of and support Haley Barbour and his Mississippi cabal.
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