Posted on 11/27/2015 11:45:44 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
McKay Coppins: “Trump’s dominance in this year’s presidential primary race has often been described as a mysterious natural phenomenon: the Donald riding a wild, unpredictable tsunami of conservative populist anger that just now happens to be crashing down on the Republican establishment. But in fact, Trump spent years methodically building and buying support for himself in a vast, right-wing counter-establishment — one that exists entirely outside the old party infrastructure and is quickly becoming just as powerful.â€
“These forces have asserted themselves repeatedly in the fight over the future of the Republican Party. But Trump came to understand their power earlier than most. When no one was watching, he was assuming command of this Fringe Establishment, building an army of activists and avatars that he would eventually deploy in his scorched-earth assault on the GOP’s old guard, on his rivals in the primary field — and, as an early test case in the winter of 2014, on me.â€
Trump’s support is significantly more centrist than any other candidates. Based on polling Trump has the support of white middle class and working class as well as moderate people. Cruz and Carson have more Evangelical support and strong conservatives follow Cruz almost exclusively.
“They would be saying this about Ted Cruz if not for Donald Trump” bump!
Trump’s support is NOT from the very conservative part of the Republican Party. Trump is making a pure populist play, and draws from all segments of the political spectrum in Republican Party and also among unaffiliated and Democrats.
The very conservative portion of the Republican Party is trending Cruz in general, but Trump puts the disaffected from all segments into play. Failure to understand that is a failure to understand the Trump phenomenon.
I am Cruz supporter, but I respect what Trump brings to the 2016 election.
Marginalizing the entire coalition that won for Ronald Reagan two national landslide elections?
Newspeak definition of right wing fringe- those who want to live according to the Constitution without jihadists beheading them.
Funny how, despite Bernie Sanders, there doesn’t seem to be a ‘Left Wing Fringe.’
As do I, sir, as do I. Trump just happens along so Cruz will be heard. Trump seems to know his playing field before ever attempting to begin ‘the game’.
And as to the reference of ‘right wing fringe’. Disregarded, tossed and dumped.
GO TRUMP! GO CRUZ! ~ YOU WIN OR WE LOSE!!
It is sad that “Right Wing Fringe” now means people who work for living, pay their taxes, don’t break laws, raise their own children, and attend church regularly.
20 years ago, the Right Wing Fringe was Randy Weaver. Today, its Ward Cleaver.
Go Trump/Cruz
So, Trump is the kingpin of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. Taegan Goddard must be channeling Hillary Clinton, or maybe really is Hillary Clinton.
“Right Wing Fringe” is nothing but a hallucination of left wing nutcases.
They think it’s the fringe. How amusing.
The fringe that got congress back in two record breaking elections?
Geeze. These dopes are going to not know what to do with themselves when he’s in the White House minding his own business.
They think he’s a narcissist. Nope just their boy Bo is
Attack article for the day... Yawn
Well maybe “fringe”, or “right wing” will get a percentage or two off his lead ya think?? Keep on trying....
Yes today its registered republicans. LOL!
I can’t stand Trump because he has brought an unprecedented level of crudeness, nastiness, old man’s bile and anti-intellectualism to this campaign - one in which we actually started out with some good younger candidates.
But I wouldn’t say he courted “the base,” simply because he probably didn’t even know there was a base. He was never involved in conservative politics in NY. He tried to run for mayor of NYC but bailed when he got opposition, because he doesn’t really have a program and isn’t reaching out to anybody.
Being the entertainer that he is, he’s just looking for an audience.
And he found one, because while he’s horrible and I wouldn’t vote for him (seriously, and I was even involved in Tea Party things), he’s tapped into a lot of anger out there among a group that feels (rightly) that it’s been marginalized and even demonized. That would be white males, particularly older white males.
Trump didn’t start with any particular group in mind, but like any good populist, he stumbled onto the vein of anger that he could exploit. And what he knows is exactly what Hitler, Stalin and all European populists knew.
Once you have gotten your personal base, appearing as their savior, it doesn’t matter what you say or do. Trump can say things like “American workers are paid too much” and working people cheer him. Huh?
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