Anyways.....thats why there are so many of them....they are just publicity hounds....and who among them is a bigger hounddog for that then "The Donald"?

but the presidency is another thing. In fact, how would their base know a buffoon when they see one?

The punditocracy wrote him off over the McCain comments, and was totally wrong. If base voters haven’t decided that he’s a buffoon yet, what new information will convince them?

Also note that mainstream Republican candidates are responding to the Trump surge by amping up their own inflammatory rhetoric, which makes their difference from The Donald ever less apparent.

I don’t know about other people, but I am starting to hedge my bets a bit. Maybe he really can get the nomination.

the sample size. If we don't know those, we don't get a very good picture...

...his political senses are wrong.

Never forget that Michelle Bachmann was also leading at this point in the election cycle.

Ditto for Ron Paul.

Ditto for a certain favorite candidate for the Democratic nomination, who shall remain nameless, because this is not the primaries forum.

Ideologues who are at the extreme ends of the party tend to get the most attention early on in an election, because while their appeal is not broad, it's deep. They manage to make minor news blurbs about big rallies and convince themselves that their echo chamber reflects a broader consensus, while completely ignoring their lack of acceptability among the party as a whole.

Trump, specifically, is never going to rise above about 40% in the standings. That's enough to dominate when you have 10 candidates on the field, but doesn't mean anything when you're up against only one other.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

It's possible, and he's right. There is NO gaff that will take Trump down. He can get away with saying just about anything and NOT lose support.

A rabid hatred of a vast majority of the Population. It is very telling for the craziest of the crazy to be sitting at the top of the heap.

twist if he even comes close to being nominated.

Who believe they're being persecuted because they're Christian, that Mexicans have stolen all the good jobs, and a college education just dumbs you down by filling your head with facts and data. These are the people that deny global warming, want to start a war with Iran, and think most rape victims secretly wanted it.

So would it shock me if a majority of Republicans voted for a reality TV star (probably solely because they recognize him from The apprentice)?

No. No, it would not.