First, it is still early. Second, you must factor in strong negatives. I haven’t the stats, but I would bet you that Trump has very strong negatives within the Republican Party. He cannot win the general election with 30% of the Republican vote. Will the others rally to him for the general election?
I am not a believer in the idea that there is much wisdom in strategy voting. All it does is ensure nearly everyone gets someone they don’t really want. I’m just speaking to your question without the answer you demand because the answer you demand is simple math and your question is really more of a statement than a question anyway.
I didn’t ask you. YOu don’t know the context of the question.
You have the media.
THEY have sure told us of EVERY Republican that has a 'negative' about Trump!
About 98% of them...
Read Laz’s post 85; http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3372298/posts?page=85#85
“Strong negatives within the republican party” are offset by support from outside the party, or probably more accurate, populist support from those who are simply against political and media elitism. Like Laz says this is a different battle and battlefield.
Besides that Trump is at 41% nationally now. Crus is at 14%. Using CW’s logic 59% are “outside Trumps camp” and 86% are “outside Cruz’s camp”. With that logic Cruz would “have stronger negatives”. But that is the old battle/old battlefield mentality. I agree with Laz, it’s populism vs elitism now so that “old battle analysis” is irrelevant. It’s like Don Quixote thinking he’s fighting giants when they are windmills. Never going to win the battle when you are facing your own straw man imaginary enemy.