This just in: Ted Cruz just beat Donald Trump “big league” in Wisconsin. “Believe me.”
Cruz’s victory was dominant and it came with support from evangelicals AND non-evangelicals. It came in a white-working class industrial type state. That’s been Trump territory up to now but Cruz flipped it in Wisconsin. That’s “yuuuuge.” This is the Cruz blueprint for victory in November. If he is able to galvanize the grassroots evangelicals by energizing them on the ground and preach a blue-collar constitutional conservative message that former “Reagan Democrats” in swing states will buy into, then he’s on his way. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s talk about Trump for a moment because, whether you like it or not, this election has been about him from the beginning. Trump will have a major say as to who the GOP nominee will be. In a way, it really is up to him. How so? Let me explain.
We have finally arrived at the most critical stage of the campaign. These next two weeks before the New York Primary will determine whether Trump becomes the nominee or not. Why? Because Trump needs to strategize with himself pronto and chart his best course. Does he recalibrate, become more presidential and let voters see a new, improved Donald Trump or does he dig in his heals and continue to plow on with the with the same exact no-holds barred strategy that got him here in the first place? Or does he try the “combo” approach? Here’s how the conversation with himself could go:
Donald Trump Inner Conversation:
Donald Trump (the candidate): “Man, I ‘gotta figure out how to close this nomination deal. I mean, I wrote, “The Art Of The Deal” which is the second best book after the Bible.”
Donald Trump (the strategist): “Good point Donald. You’re so smart. There’s no one smarter than you. But look, you can continue with your retweets and the wild-off the cuff stuff at the rallies and the insults but I’m not sure it’s going to get you to your final goal.”
Donald Trump (the candidate): “But I love the retweets. Do you understand how many followers I have? It’s like 400 million or something like that.”
Donald Trump (the strategist): “I think it’s 450 million actually but c’mon Donald just go easy. Listen to Melania, Ivanka and Jake Tapper. Become more presidential. If you do that, you’ll seal the deal. And we all know how much you love deals.”
Donald Trump (the candidate): “I do love deals. Nobody does deals better than me. The problem is I don’t want to lose the essence of who I am. I mean, I’m one-of-a-kind. I tell it like it is. I like to retweet in my pajamas. Plus, I know what I’m doing. I need to just go with my gut feeling.”
Donald Trump (the strategist): “Once again, another stellar point Donald. You’ve gone with your gut and look how far it’s taken you so as always, you’re right. But how about this? How about you still have fun at the rallies and throw hats to the crowd but we limit you to one insult per 30 minutes? That’s like two insults in your one hour speech.”
Donald Trump (the candidate): “I think I could live with that. So you’re saying just be me but dial it back like 18%. Or like 27%?”
Donald Trump (the strategist): “Whatever feels right to you Donald. You know numbers. You know percentages. You’ve built great buildings. I trust your gut. But there’s one more thing we have to discuss.”
Donald Trump (the candidate): “What’s that?”
Donald Trump (the strategist): “I think we need to get rid of the Twitter App on your phone. Call it an, “intervention.”
Donald Trump (the candidate): “Don’t even think about it. The APP is staying. You’re a loser!”
Donald Trump (the strategist): “Donald, don’t call me a loser. I’m you.”
Donald Trump (the candidate):“True. Alright, you’re brilliant. I’m done with this conversation. Let’s cue up the DVR and watch some of my best media appearances. ENJOY!”
The outcome of that inner conversation will determine whether Donald J. Trump is the nominee of the Republican Party. Here’s Trump’s best case scenario: he recalibrates by dialing it back 30%, goes on to win a big victory in New York and then voters start to see Trump as a candidate who will mature and grow. Nobody would (or should) suggest that Trump needs to stop being Trump. That wouldn't work at all. But the "combo" approach has a good chance.Then his ceiling grows and he capitalizes on what he’s already started. Can it be done? His critics will say no way but Trump proved them wrong a long time ago. Ultimately this is about sealing the deal. And if the deal is to get to 1237, then Trump needs to master the art of it before it’s too late.