[ripnbang]

Just curious...does anybody know how long the longest running 1st place candidate was in that position through a primary season? Not that it means anything, but we’ve been hearing for months that Trump would be out by the end of summer...by the fall...by the winter, etc., etc. For all intents and purposes he’s practically lead since he announced. I don’t recall a recent race where a candidate lead gate to gate.

[SamAdams76]

Other than an incumbent, I can't remember another race where one candidate led it from start to finish. 1980 - George Bush led for a while only because Reagan waited until November 1979 to enter the race. After that, it was all Reagan, though Bush gave him an early scare in Iowa.

1984 - Reagan was the incumbent with no serious challengers

1988 - While Bush was the handpicked choice of outgoing Ronald Reagan, it was not a smooth ride for Bush. He came in third in Iowa and Bob Dole led in the polls for a while. However, by Super Tuesday, Bush locked up the nomination and never looked back, having secured establishment money and backing.

1992 - Bush was the incumbent with no serious challengers and establishment money and backing.

1996 - Pat Buchanan and Steve Forbes traded leads for a while until "It's my turn" Bob Dole took command of the race with the establishment money and backing.

2000 - John McCain and Steve Forbes traded early leads until GWB got the establishment money and backing. I think McCain blew out GWB by 20 points in the NH primary.

2004 - GWB was the incumbent and had establishment money and backing.

2008 - Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani traded leads until John McCain, with establishment money and backing, took control of the race.

2012 - A free for all with Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachman and Rick Perry trading leads until Mitt Romney, with establishment money and backing, took control of the race. This was the first time in GOP history three different Republicans won early contests (Santorum in Iowa, Gingrich in SC and Romney in NH).

2016 - Jeb Bush, with establishment money and backing, has so far failed to take control of the race due to insurgent self-funding Donald Trump. In fact, Trump has led the race virtually from the day he entered it. Will history repeat itself with establishment backing and money ultimately winning the day? We shall see.

[JediJones]

According to this, Giuliani was on top for all of 2007 until McCain finally topped him at the end of 2007.

Trump should worry about Cruz pulling a McCain on him. Apparently Cruz said this week he does not believe Trump will win the primary. I think he's right. Trump's a very Giuliani-style candidate...a tough-talking northeasterner who just isn't acceptable to social conservatives. Unlike Romney, Trump doesn't have the built-in base of Mormons to give him a solid base of support.