Trump is entertaining. Trump is saying things that we GOPers want to be said. Trump has enough money that he does not have to pander to donors. Trump really doesn’t care what the MSM thinks or wants to hear. Trump is a celebrity. Trump loves his country and wants it to be great again.
For all these reasons, he is now leading in the polls. He comes across as angry, but with justification. And, that is understandable. He is not an inside the belt-way Republican.
The problem I see is his electability. Can he actually win a national election? and for how long can we put p with his angry persona and his braggadocio? Not certain about him. I am keeping my mind open, but he is not my favorite candidate. I still favor Walker with Jindal and Cruz next. I still think a person who is not part of the DC establishment would be a breath of fresh air. So Walker, Jindal and Trump fit that scenario well.
“The problem I see is his electability. Can he actually win a national election?”
The reason that people like Trump (and Reagan, for that matter) often look unelectable a year out is because they are busy locking down the base. After they lock up the base, they can start pulling in people from the center. Reagan (sadly) did that by promising a woman on the Supreme Court (Sandra Dee). Trump will do something similar (hopefully not pander like Reagan did with Sandra Dee) and his numbers will climb at that point. Clinton did the same with Sister Soldier and promising a “Middle Class Tax Cut”, and Obama did similar by more or less promising us that he would get Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to shut their traps (i.e., end racial bickering).
The opposite also applies. You nominate someone that has not locked up the base and you have a TOTAL MESS to deal with late in the game. McCain is the best example - the ideal moderate, brings people together, perfect for a HUGE WIN on election night. Only problem was they found out the base was not about to support him...so they had to run out and find Palin to use as a Hail Mary - the media was able to DESTROY McCain and all the moderation that he stood for went out the door (not a swipe at Palin here, just a fact). In 1992, Bush Sr. was in a similar situation and had to allow Pat Buchanan have a prime-time speaking role at the convention. In one speech all the moderation that Bush had cultivated by caving to the left on virtually everything was down the drain and the left simply called him an EXTREMIST because of a speech that he did not even make.
It is FAR BETTER to nominate someone that has locked down the base, and can then move a bit towards the center late in the game...and it has been proven over and over again, by both parties. So don’t worry about Trump in the general election - if he stays solid conservative through the Primary process and continues to treat his supporters with respect, he’ll be fine in the general election.
I'm a USA citizen and registered Republican voter in Florida.
Neither Bush or Rubio has any chance in hell of getting my vote in the Republican primary, and I refuse to vote for either of them, ever again, for any public office.
Should either of them attain the nomination, I will either vote third party, or leave that line blank on my ballot.
To the toxic GOPers, if you somehow manage to nominate the likes of Bush, Rubio, Perry, or any other RINO, YOU are guilty of intentionally throwing the election to whomever the DNC/Socialists nominate.
I understand that is your secondary default position.
You need to understand it won't work, this time.