Republicans think they have a better chance of winning the election without Donald Trump, but Trump continues to win in the polls.
A CNN poll conducted August 13-16 found that 69 percent of Republican registered voters held a favorable opinion of Donald Trump. Only 28 percent had an unfavorable opinion. Of all registered voters, however, only 38 percent of voters viewed him favorably, with 58 percent holding an unfavorable opinion of him.
For Republicans and independents who lean Republican, Trump remains triumphant with 24 percent support, ahead of Jeb Bush’s 13 percent, and Ben Carson’s 9 percent.
Of Republican registered voters, 45 percent believe Trump can best handle the economy, 44 percent believe he’s the best for illegal immigration, and 32 percent believe he’s the best to combat ISIS. Trump is weakest on handling social issues “such as abortion and same-sex marriage,” but still leads with 19 percent.
The intriguing portion of the poll is about the chances Trump gives the GOP to win the White House. Only 38 percent of Republican registered voters believe they have a better chance with Trump. A total of 58 percent think they have a better chance with someone else.
It isn’t as if the GOP base is flocking to another candidate. Trump has tapped into a large swath of GOP voters, and “embodies the frustration and rage of the white middle class,” according to one supporter.
The popularity of Trump indicates a frustration with Republican leadership and frustration with the political process. So long as no other candidates will reconcile their views or campaigns to that fact, Trump remains relevant. His brash style gives a sense of authenticity that, real or not, connects with voters. His rhetoric on issues such as immigration and economic changes in the Rust Belt addresses what concerns voters, as Dave Weigel wrote in the Washington Post recently. That his policy proposals are a “bag o’ crazy” remains immaterial to his supporters.
It doesn’t matter that Donald Trump can’t win a general election. Republican voters are more than aware of the fact, and that argument will not sway Trump supporters. Making sense of Trump requires a deeper examination of the concerns of the Republican base and the disconnect with the GOP establishment and other candidates.
