WASHINGTON — Donald Trump could win the Republican presidential nomination. Really.
The wealthy real estate mogul remains a long shot. But the brash Republican front-runner is primed to remain strong for the foreseeable future. No matter how offensive his remarks, polls confirm he retains a dedicated and growing corps of supporters.
Campaign funding certainly won't be a problem. Trump's a billionaire. His rivals still haven't figured out how to handle him.
Trump is competitive in Iowa, site of the first caucus. "Of course Trump can win Iowa, as is the case for any presidential candidate that generates that type of media attention and combines it with solid ground game," said Craig Robinson, editor-in-chief of TheIowaRepublican.com, a partisan website.
Trump still faces a huge challenge because the factors creating the Summer of Trump traditionally fade with the heat. People today are fed up and want an outsider? Fine for cheering at rallies. It's quite another matter to pick a commander in chief.
How Trump could win:
Voters have been in a surly mood for years, and Trump has electrified them like few others in recent years.
The 17-person Republican field is fractured, so Trump's 25 percent support, should he maintain it, could win a lot of primaries and caucuses.
He says what a lot of Americans are thinking. So far, his insults to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, Mexicans and women haven't hurt standing. Sixty-two percent of GOP voters viewed him favorably after the debate.
