Why is Trump surging? Blame the media.

[brooklynite]

Washington Post:

Donald Trump’s surge to the front of the GOP presidential polls has occasioned not a little media attention and endless speculation as to why. You can disregard most of that speculation. The answer is simple: Trump is surging in the polls because the news media has consistently focused on him since he announced his candidacy on June 16.

Below is a graph that I made with UCLA political scientist Lynn Vavreck using social analytic tools provided by Crimson Hexagon. These tools are devised to gather and reveal the volume and tone of media coverage on major news sites. Vavreck and I are analyzing the news coverage of presidential candidates as part of our joint work on the 2016 election.

...snip...

The graph shows two important things. First, Trump’s announcement generated a much larger spike in media coverage than these other candidates received. The day before he announced his candidacy, Trump received 4 percent of the media coverage devoted to these candidates. The day after, he received 31 percent.

Second, the news media’s attention to Trump hasn’t faded away, as is typical. He has consistently attracted 20-30 percent of the news coverage of these candidates. Only Jeb Bush comes close. In the month since Trump’s announcement, Trump has received 21 percent of the news coverage. Bush has received 20 percent.

[underpants]

1. The media has a product to sell : Drama

Yes it should be information but that's boring. They will keep the Repubs alive (and have since 2006) because there isn't any drama in a landslide win. Between the media and gerrymandering, those are the only reasons the GOP exists after 2006.

[brooklynite]

2. The media isn't "Red" and it isn't "Blue"; it's "Green"

Anything to deliver eyes to the advertisers.

[daleanime]

3. Definitely!

Had a big hand in it.

[Turbineguy]

4. Getting Trump in the White House

is obviously a great thing. His antics will save them from having to put in creative effort. Sure, the country will suffer and millions will die, but look at the ratings. Besides, as everybody knows, if you die on TV you will not have died in vain. You'll have entertained us.

[spanone]

5. the media is not our friend. they are easily distracted by the rantings of a lunatic.

[Vinca]

6. Trump is surging because there is an incredibly hateful wing of the GOP

and he's tapped into it. They've always been there, but have increased in size from a few oddballs in the corner to half the party.