Everyday I wake up to a new Donald Trump story on CNN.  I understand it is the same on all of the other cable news networks as well. CNN, FOX News, MSNBC and the like are driven by ratings and people are fascinated with the bazaar and unusual. So I guess it isn’t unexpected that these networks are driven like rats to the Pied Piper’s tune to report on whatever absurd, outlandish or vile remarks to which Trump has recently given voice. Meanwhile other far more serious candidates are often neglected, unless of course they have been bashing Trump.

There is a reason why Trump, a multi-billionaire, is spending very little of his own money on his self financed campaign.   This is no accident; Trump is craftily manipulating the news networks into giving him hundreds of minutes of free publicity. He is found the sweet spot for spreading his campaigns message – his outlandish remarks resonate with his core supporters and at the same time are almost impossible for the news networks to ignore. It is obvious that the news personalities reporting on the Trump phenomenon understand exactly what is happening, but Trump is like heroine to their networks; they know they are hooked, but they simply can’t help themselves. The only question is what unbelievable statement will next find its way out of Trump’s mouth.

I hear establishment Republicans on the news networks claiming time and time again that since Trump’s message resonates with only about of third of the Republican electorate, he will sooner or later be overtaken by more serious contenders. However, I think that they believe that message less and less every day, and that frightens the hell out of them. They know that if Trump wins the Republican nomination, there is little chance that this reality TV clown can win the general election.

Based on what I have put together thus far, it appears that Trump is still in position to win given how the primaries and their rules are laid out. Right now, in my opinion, Ted Cruz has the next best chance of capturing the Republican nomination. That too can’t be very good news for establishment Republicans since most of them hate Cruz. Nor do I think that the guy who twice brought the government to its knees will be a very popular choice in the general election.

I am presently doing a state by state, primary by primary analysis of the chances that each of the prominent candidates has of winning the Republican nomination. I will report the results when I have finished that analysis and will then update it regularly based the latest poll results.

In the meantime I feel sure that we can expect to see Donald Trump continue to dominate the election news coverage. I don’t see the networks submitting to drug addiction therapy anytime soon and The Donald will ensure that there is plentiful supply of their favorite opiate available.

Cajun   12/23/2015