Getting that Christmas spirit, 69-year-old real estate mogul and former reality TV star Donald Trump continues at 27%, holding 10% above the new second place contender Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), with previous second place opponent 64-year-old retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson a close third place at 16%. Today’s Quinnipiac University poll surprised the mainstream media after relentless pounding for making fun of disabled New York Times reporter Serge F. Kovaleski for recanting his story about New Jersey residents celebrating after Sept. 11. Trump’s dramatic antics, mimicking Kovaleski, prompted a widespread media attacks, accusing the GOP presidential front-runner of gross insensitivity. Before the Kovaleski affair, the media savaged Trump for making exaggerated claims of seeing “thousands” of Muslims celebrating in New Jersey after Sept. 11.
Despite relentless attacks against Trump, especially for mimicking Kovaleski, the public yawned, keeping Trump as front-runner, despite claiming he was doomed after a Nov. 4 poll showed Trump leading the GOP pack with 43% of the vote. News anchors heralded his sudden drop in the polls to the end of Trump’s surprising four-month domination. Not one journalist considered the Nov. 4, 43% poll as an outlier, inconsistent with all others, showing Trump at around 30%. Trump’s continued front-runner status proves that his candidacy is no flash in the plan, or, for that, matter, a protest candidate. Watching Tea Party favorite Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker drop from the race Sept. 21 or GOP establishment candidate former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush plunge to 5% gives Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus fits trying to make sense of the 2016 race.
Trump’s recent poll is his biggest accomplishment yet because of the media’s relentless attempt to sabotage his campaign. Piling on with media’s attacks, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told CNN that Trump doesn’t have the temperament or character to be president, based on mocking of a disabled reporter. Quinnipiac’s recent poll showed that the real loser in all the attacks against Trump was the media and the GOP Party establishment. No matter how good the polls are for Trump, the GOP finds a way to spoil his success. “Many leading Republican officials, strategists and donors now say they fear that Mr. Trump’s nomination would lead to an electoral wipeout, a sweeping defeat that could undo some of the gains Republicans have made in recent congressional, state and local elections,” Jonathan Martin wrote in the New York Times, wildly speculating about 2016 outcome.
Instead of looking at Trump’s polls as the beginning of the end, the GOP should appreciate such a resilient candidate rising above the pack. Forget about the media’s objections, including Trump’s hyperbole and factual inconsistencies, there’s something to his candidacy that should give the GOP reason for optimism. “But in a party that lacks a true leader or anything in the way of consensus—and with the combative Mr. Trump certain to scorch anyone who takes him on—a fierce dispute has arisen about what can be done to stop his candidacy and whether anyone should even try,” said Martin, not admitting that the GOP’s tried feverishly to take Trump down from day-one. Right out the gate in the first Fox News GOP debate Aug, 6, the GOP establishment hit Trump with their best shot. When the dust settled, the ever-Teflon Trump gained momentum as the GOP’s front-runner.
No matter how much the GOP establishment pushes back against Trump, voters show their approval, less concerned about facts than a charismatic voice. Trump’s way of relating to voters shows a degree of authenticity and down-to-earthness rarely seen in presidential politics. Commanding sellout crowds contradicts GOP pundits hoping to sabotage Trump. “If he carries this message into the general election in Ohio, we’ll hand the election to Hillary Clinton,” said Matt Borgess, chairman of Ohio’s Republican Party. GOP insiders forget that the vast majority of voters are independent, not especially wed to either party. Trump’s appeal to independents and disenfranchised Democrats and Republicans could present real problems for Hillary. Unlike Trump, Hillary shows strong backing with Democrats only but fairs less well with independents and crossover Republicans.
Trump’s staying power in the polls shows he’s the one to beat in the Republican field. There’s no one, including upstarts Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), who lights up voters more than Trump. Extreme dislike of Trump stems from obvious jealousy that he’s crushing the GOP field. “It would be an utter, complete and total disaster,” said 60-year-old Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), dumbfounded, but more importantly, angry that he’s polling at only one percent. Graham’s disgust with Trump, while certainly personal, mirrors the same frustration as other candidates, eclipsed by the real estate tycoon and former reality TV star’s charisma. Instead of ranting about Trump’s success, the GOP should embrace Trump, much the same way they did former Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan in 1980. With Trump appealing to independents and crossover Democrats, Hillary can’t be too happy.
