Trump may be 'impossible to take down,' top Republican pollster says

NJ.com ^ | 08/25/2015 | Claude Brodesser-Akner

[BuckeyeTexan]

LEXANDRIA, Va. — A new focus group commissioned by GOP pollster Frank Luntz shows Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is virtually invulnerable to attack by rival 2016 candidates and the media, leading Luntz to say that it is now "totally conceivable" that Trump will become the Republican Party's nominee for president.

"The Republican leadership needs to wake up and see that the grass roots has abandoned them," said Luntz, the head of Luntz Global, a top GOP polling and messaging consultancy.

"This is a different cat," Luntz added. "It's not like Ross Perot in 1992, where people were simply unhappy with the two major parties; they're choosing Trump affirmatively. Honestly, my legs are shaking looking at these numbers. All those people who think he's going to implode are wrong. He's not going away."

[Will88]

Luntz said that? The genius who’s already declared Trump’s candidacy dead three times?

[2ndDivisionVet]

[BuckeyeTexan]

I wouldn’t bet against him. I don’t know yet that I would bet on him either, but I dang sure wouldn’t bet against him.

(You know me. I have to examine the data. I ain’t done with that yet.)

[matthew fuller]

"So... Is it too early to start asking how bad it is going to be with the Clintons back in the White House for four years?"

Yes, it is. It's not at all certain that Trump will go third party. Only if that happens, does it become relevant (IMHO). If it does happen, the USA just might see a third party president elected, for the first time in my life, maybe ever. (I still support Cruz).

[Ancesthntr]

"The Republican leadership needs to wake up and see that the grass roots has abandoned them," said Luntz,

No, actually the Republican leadership abandoned the grass roots. I know that it is somewhat semantics, but the leadership is the one that went off the reservation, not the rank and file of the Party.

As for those upset with Luntz for recognizing reality, I urge you not to be so upset - be happy, because the more that people recognize that the grass roots are sick and tired of the elites, the more likely it is that an insurgent candidate (Trump or Cruz) gets the nomination. The more that guys like Luntz say "this is about a done deal," the more likely that the GOPe will STFU and play ball. They WON'T like it, but they'll really have no choice.

[Abby4116]

No, actually the Republican leadership abandoned the grass roots

They did that when they didn't support Goldwater.

[BuckeyeTexan]

I'm not sure they're humble enough to STFU and play ball. McConnell and Boehner initiated total war against our primary candidates during the midterms and basically won. They've always been on the giving end of “STFU & play ball.” It's more likely they'll take their ball and join the opposition.

Good riddance. I am done with them.

[NRx]

With respect, I think you and quite a few of the Trumpetts are living in a political fantasy land. The object of the Trumpetts is to tell moderate Republicans (RINOs GOP-E etc) to go to hell. That message is being heard loud and clear. If Trump wins the nomination, a real possibility, I doubt he will win more than a handful of states outside of the old Confederacy come the general election.

We are driving off a political cliff.

[VerySadAmerican]

He’s still trying to get Trump to hire him. This is the guy whose phony focus group on Fox slammed Trump. Absolutely zero cred.

[5th MEB]

You are entitled to your opinion, we are entitled to disagree.
Perhaps it is time to drive the Repulicrats and Democans off the political cliff.
The two entrenched parties have not acted in word or deed in the interests of WE THE PEOPLE since Reagan left office.
The current rot in our political system became evident when Woodrow Wilson was elected, and has continued to a greater or lesser degree in both parties since.
Perhaps it is time to say NO MORE PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS, no more lifetime tenure for political family dynasties.
We welcome all who would put themselves forward to serve honestly and honorably; all the citizens of the NATION, not just a single interest group or big money donor.
It has been said that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, currently there is no better example of this than Washington, DC.
They come, they take, then they stay and take more.
They perpetuate their positions by legalistic acrobatics, gerrymandering, vote buying and other political chicanery.
When does enough become to much.
Time to say ENOUGH.

[qman]

Luntz is a Putz and part of the problem, his time is over and he’s just trying to remain relevant.

[supremedoctrine]

Nicely put ,5th MEB, and NICELY FORMATTED.

[SoothingDave]

Or President Sanders or Biden or Warren

[NRx]

I was afraid to even suggest that. But since you apparently are not, I agree. There is no serious Democratic candidate or potential candidate that cannot beat Trump.

“You nominate the most conservative candidate who can win a general election.” -Ronald Reagan

[piasa]

If you don’t want a professional politician, but want someone with integrity, vote for Carson.

If you want a mob-backed national-socialist who tells you only what you want to hear, vote for Trump.

[matthew fuller]

As you can see by my post #24, I’m not aboard the Trump train. I hold out considerable hope that Cruz will emerge as the leader, however, Trump is leading now. But quite separate from all that, I believe that hillary has more of a chance of being indicted than nominated. She would still retain 95% of her supporters, but she is going to be thrown under the Buckwheat Trailways Express any day now. I also believe that the GOPe machine has suffered serious injury already, and that may be lasting.

[MplsSteve]

Amen to your post!

Spot on.

[contrarian]

The Republican leadership needs to wake up and see that the grass roots has abandoned them,” said Luntz, the head of Luntz Global, a top GOP polling and messaging consultancy.— What is it about WE HATE YOUR GUTS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO THIS COUNTRY that the gop-e doesnt’ understand? That includes you too mr. Luntz...

[Awgie]

Republicans failed to realize the level of contempt and frustration with them. Republicans have allowed this American Hating Racist Kenyan Muslim POS Traitor to have a free hand for 8 years to wreck our economy, divide its citizens, hollow our military and forfeit our national security. That was enough to set up the dynamics by which a bombastic usurper, unwilling to kiss the GOPe ring, was able to grab the microphone, tell Megyn, Jorge, Lindsy, Jebby to shut, bypassing their scripted game plan, while speaking directly to the anger of the American People.

Trump has exposed what a sham the entire political process has become. Uni-Party insiders, along with a complicit media, have unwritten rules about who gets to say what, when and how.

Their unwritten rules guarantee that all of them live their political media celebrity lifestyles of the rich, famous and unaccountable.

Its a closed circle of insiders who have fought hard and kissed alot of ass to work their way up the ladder and secure their cushy position inside the political-media industrial complex.

Trump has the money, celebrity and personality to cut the line, push the bouncers aside, march into the party and start playing his own music.

Everybody hates him, because he was not on the guest list.

[I Hired Craig Livingstone]

It’s going to take a financial scandal, a sex scandal, Rush Limbaugh entering the race, or a series of hard-core racial slurs to bring down The Donald. Nothing going on the first despite all his enemies. The second won’t happen. And despite how “out of control” he likes to seem, his madness yet has a method to it. It’s intentional. It’s working. If the rest of the party weren’t immigration-fetishizing cowards they wouldn’t be in this mess.