The chance that Donald Trump could be the next president of The United States is real. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong, in denial and/or lying to you.
I’ve been saying it for months. In fact, the first time I said it was in November 2015. The chance that “The Donald,” the guy who has been a billionaire TV star and skyscraper owner, could become president is more than a possibility.
If this time a year ago you said, “In early May, Donald Trump will be the last man standing, and Hillary and Bernie will still be battling it out,” you would get laughed out of the room. What usually works in political campaigning doesn’t apply this cycle; from the candidates to the campaign tactics, it’s a new ballgame, especially for the Republicans.
The Republican Party created a lot of this mess with their hate for President Obama and their unwillingness to work across party lines. The “my way or the highway”-style politics or “united conservatism” is not liked by voters, Democrat or Republican. (Just ask Ted Cruz how that party-line endorsement from Gov. Mike Pence worked for him.)
If it is conventional or traditional, throw it out. It is no good this year.
The only thing that still works is the power of voting and excitement. Just ask Donald Trump; he’d know about that.
Trump winning this Indiana primary was no surprise to me, not in the least. Trump supporters are all around you. They are the typical people you’d assume are Trump supporters, but are also the people you would’ve never guessed were fans.
I was recently working with a group of middle-aged white women, and they were all huge Trump fans. But wait, isn’t this the same group of people that the people on TV claim hate Donald Trump? News flash: It is a different conversation around kitchen tables across the country. Despite the comments Trump has made about women, there are a lot of women who support him anyway. (Remember when I said what is usual in the campaign doesn’t work this year? Go ahead and apply that here.)
Remember, the only thing that is usual this year is that voting still works. You must vote, Black and brown folks!!! Our record the past few years has not been impressive. Research shows when minorities don’t vote, turnout is low. When voter turnout is low, Republicans win.
The only way to defy the odd normalities of this election is for you to vote. Get your friends, get your family and vote. Don’t make low voter turnout from minorities become normal, as well.
