One should be cautious of self-centered, charismatic people.
Dozens of national and state polls have shown Donald Trump steadily climbing in popularity. In the many and varied Republican presidential campaigns, aides have been able to find some solace in the conviction the surveys are wrong, and his success is no more than a summertime fluke. However, some are starting to wonder if this may be little more than wishful thinking.
Donald Trump’s support is not based on an issue or a platform, which is, in part, what has allowed his candidacy to flourish. It is his personality, his celebrity, and his boldness, not his policy stances, which have given him the advantage. Donald Trump has built a broad and diverse base around his personality. By doing so, he has effectively insulated himself from the consequences of shocking statements that would instantly devastate his Republican rivals.
In multiple polls of Republicans, Donald Trump leads among women, in spite of having used terms like “fat pig” and “disgusting animal” to publicly insult some of them. He is in the lead with evangelical Christians, in spite of saying he had never had a reason to ask God for forgiveness. Trump leads among moderates and college educated voters, in spite of his racist, sexist, and anti-immigrant message. He leads among the voters who take their voting responsibilities seriously, even though his appeal is strongest with those who “rarely” vote.
The broad spectrum of Donald Trump’s followers is surprising considering this is a time of religious, ideological and geographic divisions within the Republican Party. His success points out the real problem facing his competitors. They lack charisma.
When asked to explain their support for Mr. Trump, voters from different backgrounds used much the same language, calling him “ballsy” and saying they admired how he “tells it like it is” and relished how he “isn’t politically correct.” Donald Trump is popular because of his attitude, not his ideology.
Jan Mannarino, a 65 year old retired teacher, believes Donald Trump’s defiance of political norms is his single greatest strength. She said,
“Even if he doesn’t win, he’s teaching other politicians to stop being politicians. He comes on strong. He could say it gently. But I think no one would listen.”
When people talked about Donald Trump, they often described him as “a person who gets things done.”
Why haven’t Donald Trump’s outrageous statements, his disloyalty to the Republican Party, and his
attacks on rivals, hurt his popularity? Trump’s most offensive comments have, for many Republicans, confirmed him as a unique outsider willing to challenge conventions, and satisfied a deep craving for plain spoken directness.
Asked if Trump had crossed a line with his language, Carl Tomanelli, 68, a retired NYC police officer, seemed surprised by the question. He responded,
“People are starting to see, I believe, that all this political correctness is garbage. I think he’s echoing what a lot of people feel and say. Many people say they support Trump ‘because’ of his unusual statements.”
Donald Trump needs to be taken seriously, both as a presidential candidate, and as a threat to those of us who want a president who thinks in the big picture, and who is not controlled by her/his ego.
