Do you think that Donald Trump's campaign was serious from the start?

[Californiadreaming]

Do you think that Donald Trump's Presidential campaign was serious from the start? Or do you think that Donald Trump initially ran for President in order to get more publicly and then had his Presidential bid spiral out of control to the point that he actually won the Republican Presidential nomination?

[Hermit For Peace]

NO.

[Californiadreaming]

NO.

So, you think that Donald Trump initially ran for President in order to get more publicly and then had his Presidential bid spiral out of control to the point that he actually won the Republican Presidential nomination, correct?

[ProudModerate2]

No, and it still isn't serious.

[Californiadreaming]

No, and it still isn't serious.

It's currently serious enough for him to have a realistic chance of winning the U.S. Presidency, though.

[Illiniwek]

It just couldn't have been.

[evergreenarbor]

No. I think Trump was as surprised as everyone else when he actually started to gain traction.

[RaphaelDLG]

NO.

So, you think that Donald Trump initially ran for President in order to get more publicly and then had his Presidential bid spiral out of control to the point that he actually won the Republican Presidential nomination, correct?

Sounds about right.

[anthonyjg]

It just couldn't have been.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

He's a delusional megalomaniac, so yes, it was serious.  It just so happens that Donald's delusions lined up with the delusions of 40% of the electorate.

[Hermit For Peace]

NO.

So, you think that Donald Trump initially ran for President in order to get more publicly and then had his Presidential bid spiral out of control to the point that he actually won the Republican Presidential nomination, correct?

I don't know why he kept trying to run for President, except it was an EGO thing. There is no way that his actions in the past have ever shown that Trump cares about America, cares about people getting ahead, cares about the Middle Class, cares about improving education and the cost of education -- in fact he was involved with his fake Trump University scam deal which bilked people out of a lot of money -- cares about anything but earning money and making deals, and keeping his mug plastered all over the media.

Actions speak far far louder than words.

[Wells]

No, and it still isn't serious.

[Dr. Arch]

No, and it still isn't serious.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

No, and it still isn't serious.

[Ronnie]

He's a delusional megalomaniac, so yes, it was serious.  It just so happens that Donald's delusions lined up with the delusions of 40% of the electorate.

40% of the primary electorate is one thing, but it's likely that Trump will get more than 40% of the general electorate as well.  Whether or not many people will vote for him because he is the "lesser of evils" or because of political tribalism, it shows that there is still swath of people in this country who at least nominally accept his vile rhetoric.  We have a lot of work left to do when it comes to making this country's political atmosphere less toxic and polarized.  Hillary needs to win in the short term, but I just fear that we will have to confront the terrifying prospect of someone like Trump being president at some point again.

[Seriously?]

Donald Trump has $43 million-plus reasons to be serious about his campaign.

Any instance to the contrary is patently ridiculous. Trump has been flirting with running for POTUS for about 25 years now. Go look at the Oprah interview in 1988 or 1989. This is hardly anything new. He was finally fed up and decided to change things.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

He's a delusional megalomaniac, so yes, it was serious.  It just so happens that Donald's delusions lined up with the delusions of 40% of the electorate.

40% of the primary electorate is one thing, but it's likely that Trump will get more than 40% of the general electorate as well.  Whether or not many people will vote for him because he is the "lesser of evils" or because of political tribalism, it shows that there is still swath of people in this country who at least nominally accept his vile rhetoric.  We have a lot of work left to do when it comes to making this country's political atmosphere less toxic and polarized.  Hillary needs to win in the short term, but I just fear that we will have to confront the terrifying prospect of someone like Trump being president at some point again.

Next time he/she will be a 40-something with fantastic hair and the smooth demeanor of a televangelist.  He will speak in soothing tones about how much he "believes in America," in "putting America first," in tearing down the corrupt elites and taking a hard line against all threats against us.  He will speak social progressivism out of one side of his mouth, but stoke xenophobia and nationalism out of the other.  Many Democrats will flock to him.  He might even run as a Democrat.

[Torie]

Originally it might not have been serious. It is serious now, and should be taken seriously. The nation has gone nutter.

[Hermit For Peace]

Originally it might not have been serious. It is serious now, and should be taken seriously. The nation has gone nutter.

I will never take Trump seriously about anything.

[OwlRhetoric]

Yes, the issues were serious to Trump and his campaign from the get go. However, I don't think he expected to get this far and have a serious GE shot until after he won SC or Nevada.

[Taco Truck 🚚]

NO.

Originally it might not have been serious. It is serious now, and should be taken seriously. The nation has gone nutter.

I will never take Trump seriously about anything.

I think Torie meant take the threat of Trump seriously.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I tend to believe the story of the former staffer who said he ran originally as a protest candidate wanting to get 10% of the vote. I think he kept pushing the envelope and even he was surprised to see that his tactics actually got him more votes

[Ljube]

I am not sure.

[Xing]

No, and it still isn't serious.

[Human]

Nope

I though Donald Trump was a joke who'd eventually drop out in a few months.