next year is wide open and they've been firing shots at Democrats for a while now.

With the gerrymandering and strength at the state level that they have they will be extremely dangerous, whoever the Pres. candidate is.

They got a piece of shit like W in, and nothing says the country is any wiser now. Built up resentment against Obama may not be very widespread, but it is deep, and they will use it.

Maybe they figure if they follow the guy who makes the most noise and gets the most attention they'll attract some naive young voters who are attracted to noise and shiny things. Following tRump around certainly suggests they're not too interested in policy substance.

But only if it's Hillary Clinton or another DLC type to keep things running for them.

I can't think they want ANYONE close to the position that could rock their apple cart.

For one thing, they'd be buoyed by the thought that Americans are often quite willing to elect the other party to the White House after one guy has been there for eight years.

I sort of suspect that the leaders in the party hope desperately that Trump will go away, but they won't have conceded anything yet.

It'll bring out the apathetic conservative vote.

And those are voters that might not bother otherwise.

It is far, far too early to come to any conclusion. 24 hours in politics is an eternity, over a year out........

Will be forgotten by this time next year.

Just because they spend a lot of money and make a lot of noise doesn't mean they are well-organized or know what they are doing.

A Trump candidacy would indeed turn out the racist/nativist RW vote in republican gerrymandered districts but the House will be difficulty to win control of (because of the gerrymandering) regardless of who runs. A Trump candidacy would not work as well for republican hopes in the Senate where gerrymandering does not help them.