I think people are discounting a major reason for Trump's popularity. And it's very simple.

[hfojvt]

33. I probably have not watched any TV in the last 7 months

I don't think that has harmed me.

I have not watched any of the Republican "debates". Why should I? I am not gonna be voting in the Republican primary (although there ARE some Democrats who say they do that, support the worst candidate in the Republican primary in the hopes that he/she will be easier to beat in the fall)

I watched Trump's New Hampshire speech on YT last night.

To me, it sounded a) typically Republican and b) also like it would appeal to a lot of moderate voters. Having given some campaign speeches myself, I have to give him some credit. He's a pretty polished speaker. I would probably not have been able to hit that many bases in a speech myself and tie it all together and keep it flowing.

I get a sense of deja vu here, like we do this every four years. George W. Bush was the worst person alive for about nine years. Then it was Palin. Then it was Romney. Now it is Trump. Or Cruz. Or Rubio. Or Kasich.

Meanwhile my conservative friends on FB. They don't just want to elect some other candidate. They want Obama and Clinton to goto prison. I don't subscribe to this kind of partisan rancor. I am more into a rational discussion of policies.