An interesting dynamic might be unfolding as the Republican presidential field continues to thin out.
It involves Donald J. Trump and the support he’s been able to get so far.
I believe it’s fair to ask: Who are the voters supporting the dropouts going to endorse?
The GOP field now is down to seven candidates; it started out at 17, if you’ll recall.
Some of the so-called “establishment” candidates have packed it in. The latest significant casualty was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Others have gone by the wayside and none of them appears to be friends of Trump, who’s managed to insult his way to the top of the GOP heap.
I’m wondering if Trump’s support now will dwindle as Republican voters who were loyal, say, to Christie, or Mike Huckabee, or Rick Santorum, or Bobby Jindal start looking around for someone else to support.
Ted Cruz is mining the ultraconservative voters. Marco Rubio, although now severely damaged by the battering he took in the most recent GOP debate, is on the hunt for the same folks. John Kasich, my favorite Republican, also is beginning to gather some steam. Jeb Bush also could find himself thrust into the game.
All of these individuals stand to gain from the remnants of support that rallied around theĀ candidates who’ve departed the campaign trail.
Where does that leave Trump? With his base of support, comprising voters who somehow are infatuated with the candidate’s brashness and don’t seem to care one little bit that he doesn’t seem to possess a political philosophy on which he would govern.
Let’s just watch this thing continue to play out.
I’ve seen the polls that show Trump still leading in South Carolina. However, as we’ve seen in previous election cycles, the Palmetto State is where the GOP campaign has been known to get nasty … as in real nasty.
I’m now wondering how well Trump will hold up when the mud starts flying.