Trump has not expanded his base of support one whit in this convention.

[auntpurl]

He needed to use the platform of the RNC to appeal to moderates, independents, undecideds. Instead, he doubled down with the Rabid Right, who were already with him (excluding the Bible-thumper schism, which good old shitweasel Lyin' Ted might have helped us with last night). But I can't think of a single sensible, reasonable person who would have watched this...display in Cleveland and thought, "That looks like the kind of political party and candidate I want to align myself with."

Trump has probably fired up his (demographically limited) base. But nobody else is getting onboard this car crash of a political ideology. The headlines each day so far:

Day 1: Melania plagiarism
Day 2: More Melania plagiarism with double-down lies from the Trump campaign
Day 3: Cruz gets out the long knives

All interspersed with absolutely NO policy discussion and massive hate-on for Hillary. Seriously, this has been an utter failure at appealing to normal Americans. I can't wait to see his speech tonight (metaphorically speaking, of course. I will read a transcript because his voice and demeanor makes me physically ill). If he tries to "mainstream" his message, he'll alienate his rabid base. If he doubles down with the hate, he loses any shot at reasonable people voting for him in November. He can't win. It's beautiful.

[Agschmid]

1. I'd normally agree... But 2016 is anything but normal.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. OTOH it is remarkable to note that Trump isn't exactly hemorrhaging supporters either

despite being caught in significant multiple lies, inconsistencies, repugnant opinions, and general contempt for these supporters. It's more than suspension of disbelief or cognitive dissonance. They made a decision and they're not going to change it.

What's left to be proved is how many of them will actually vote.

[auntpurl]

4. His supporters are lost - we'll never get them and we never would have.

The point is, he needs to GAIN supporters, from the enormous group of people to the left of his base (i.e., most of America). And he's not gonna do it with this crap.

[Tal Vez]

3. Trump cannot even manage a convention and he is asking to be entrusted with the country.

[tonyt53]

5. Doesn't have to. He just want so hold what he has. He is counting on a voter revolt against Hillary

That voter revolt would be voting for some other candidate or not voting at all.

[auntpurl]

6. That's not going to happen.

People aren't this stupid. They elected Obama twice. I have faith in America.

Yes, they also elected GWB twice. But Trump is a LOT worse than GWB.

[C_U_L8R]

7. The 'Connecticut Republicans"

have their heads buried in shame.
It's a delight torturing them over
the hate-filled shitshow that once
their Grand Old Party.
They'll be holding their noses
when they vote if not completely
sitting this one out.

[auntpurl]

8. The old-school (Pre-Reagan) Republicans - what must they be thinking?

It must be mortifying to be associated with this trash.

[PatSeg]

9. Trump is not a politician

and contrary to what he believes, he does not know what he is doing. Getting a hardcore hateful-racist base revved up is not necessarily that hard to do, but he thinks it makes him a huge success. There are good reasons why the other candidates did not go to places Trump did. They are experienced politicians and know you cannot ride that train into a general election.

Trump was too busy patting himself on the back for all his successes to realize there is a reason by "outsiders" don't win presidential elections.