You can feel the momentum building for Donald Trump with his win last night in Michigan.
I was talking with a client who lives in New Jersey last week and I asked him for the word on the street about Chris Christie’s endorsement of Trump. He said the press was having a fit, and demanding Christie’s resignation. That can’t be much help. But, as a colleague of mine points out, maybe Christie’s endorsement helps in the redder New England states where he’s still popular like New Hampshire and Maine.
In Massachusetts, I find it pretty amazing that 20,000 voters shed their party affiliation to become independent voters. Tom Brady’s friendship with Trump certainly has some weight in Massachusetts. Not that he’s the reason for the shift, but it’s also worth noting that Patriots coach Bill Belichick, along with his wife, dined with Mr. Trump over the weekend. “In Bill We Trust” could be a prayer in New England.
The magic number for the GOP nomination is 848 delegates. As I wrote to you recently about the Golden Four states:
Since 1980, the Republican front-runner has swept the Golden Four to win the nomination. Voting takes place later in the season for the Golden Four (CA-June 6/NY-April 19/PA-April 26/NJ-June 7). If history holds true, then Trump’s magic number to hit, prior to the Golden Four contests, is 848 delegates.
This time may be different, but it is worth looking at how momentum plays into choosing the winner.
What about Trump winning the Ohio nomination and then the general? I like the idea of Trump asking Kasich to be his Vice President and sooner rather than later. With Kasich on board it would firm up Trump’s stand against Rubio and more importantly, the Establishment. The Establishment is going nuclear on Trump through their Super PACs.
Another conversation I had last week was with a client who is a reformed “Progressive” (yes, it can happen). He pointed me to some commentary by Rush Limbaugh. I also listened to the interview below with Rush where he makes some great points. One being how sick and tired Americans are with the Establishment. We don’t need Washington telling us how to live our lives.
Listen to what Rush has to say about Trump’s much bigger upside than downside.