Pundits have talked themselves sideways looking for a label to hang on "The Donald" since he entered the race last summer: billionaire, reality-show star. But one that some never imagined is "Republican nominee." With a major win last week and three more states up this week, Trump has had success beyond all predictions – except, perhaps, his own.
How could the experts have been so wrong? Full Measure correspondent Scott Thuman reports it's the media coverage that is looking more like a reality show.
Advertisement - story continues below
At present, Donald Trump is the leading Republican candidate for president. The GOP front-runner has won nominating contests in nearly 20 states and a U.S. territory. Trump has also won more than half of the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination.
"I, and a relatively few other people, said 'don't underestimate Donald Trump,'" stated Howie Kurtz, media critic and host of Fox News' Media Buzz, "because I knew what a tough customer he was in New York. The media spent months and months and months missing the Donald Trump phenomenon. Never have so many been so wrong about one candidate."
TRENDING: Parents of Chiefs fan threaten to sue after journalist used deceptive photo to smear child
It's an outcome few expected would happen nine months ago, when Trump officially announced his bid for the White House. His candidacy was quickly dismissed by most of the media and mocked by late-night comedians. The Huffington Post even went so far as to cover his campaign in its "Entertainment" section.
Advertisement - story continues below
Over the summer, candidate Trump was consistently on the airwaves of broadcast news channels, helping draw in record viewership during the Republican primary debates.
"What did that mean by all of us underestimating Donald Trump early on?" Thuman asked Kurtz. "What was the impact of that?"
"It probably helped Donald Trump that the press dismissed and mocked and minimized him," Kurtz replied, "because he was able to run against the media."
What do YOU think? What is the biggest reason for Trump's popularity? Sound off in today's WND poll.
Advertisement - story continues below
Now his "summer of stumping" has turned into his "winter of winning." The New York businessman-turned-politician has outlasted contenders that analysts once predicted had a much better shot at securing the nomination.
"Donald Trump utterly changed the rules of campaigning," said Kurtz. "The way in which he conducts himself was supposed to be unacceptable for somebody running for president – except when you win most of the states, and then people say, 'Well, I guess that worked.'"
According to mediaQuant, a firm that tracks media coverage, Donald Trump has received nearly $2 billion worth of free media coverage over the course of this campaign. That's more than all the remaining 2016 presidential candidates combined.
Not all the media coverage Trump received has been positive. But despite making several statements analysts predicted would derail his chances, Trump has consistently pulled higher than any other candidate seeking the Republican nomination.
Advertisement - story continues below
Now pundits and politicians alike are taking Trump's candidacy seriously, prompting Mitt Romney, the 2012 nominee, to deliver a speech making the argument that Trump is unfit to lead the party.
"Let me put it very plainly," stated Romney. "If we Republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished."
Romney, along with House Speaker Paul Ryan, voiced concerns about the violence seen at Trump's campaign rallies.
"This party does not prey on the peoples' prejudices," said Ryan. "We appeal to their highest ideals."
But the frontrunner is capitalizing on his outsider status, calling to unify the fractured Republican party while at the same time warning of possible riots if he's denied the nomination in a contested convention.
"The Republican leaders kind of rigged this thing to get a consensus around an early frontrunner," said Kurtz. "They just never imagined that frontrunner would be Donald Trump. And I think now, for all the talk of the contested convention, Republicans are pretty much going to have to live with the guy who has won the most states and the most delegates."
Another sign Donald Trump is very much in the driver's seat? There was supposed to be another Republican debate Monday night in Utah. He decided he did not want to attend; and Fox News and the GOP canceled the entire event. He said he's coming to Washington D.C. instead to speak to a pro-Israel political group. Now Ted Cruz and John Kasich are following suit.
"The Republican establishment seems very concerned," observed Sharyl Attkisson of Full Measure.
"Yes, and the level is significant," replied Thuman. "There are reports that just this week, conservative GOP leaders met and they discussed two options. One, do we coalesce behind Donald Trump? Or two, could we possibly come up with a candidate at the last minute to derail his candidacy and become the nominee? And if so, how would all of that play out?"
"And who would it be?" concluded Attkisson.
