"I think Trump's ability to tap into the anger and distrust in the electorate is the sort of thing the political establishment ... has difficulty totally understanding."

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Does this cartoon foretell the fate of Donald Trump’s campaign?
By Chris Cillizza, August 28, 2015

Clay Bennett @BennettCartoons
8/28/2015- The Supporter #Trump2016 #TrumpForPresident #MakeAmericaGreatAgain
7:30 AM - 28 Aug 2015

This cartoon, which comes from the pen of Clay Bennett, the editorial cartoonist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, expresses the belief of almost all of the Republican establishment.

Sure, Donald Trump is leading in the polls everywhere right now, but so was Howard Dean at this point in the 2004 Democratic presidential primary race. And Dean wound up flaming out with Democrats making the "Dated Dean, Married Kerry" bumper sticker a very real thing.

So, eventually, the thinking goes, Trump's support will flame out. The Summer of Trump will turn into the fall of discontent (or something). People who say they are for Trump now are having a laugh but will come to their senses when the actual time to vote nears and they start caring about things like electability. Or Trump will fundamentally disqualify himself in some meaningful way some time soon.

The "sober up" metaphor, of course, isn't entirely new. Seth Meyers has predicted that same thing.

To which I say: I guess? It's hard for me to imagine Trump saying or doing something at this point that would disqualify him in the eyes of his supporters. Trump is starting to approach Edwin Edwards's famous "dead girl/live boy" untouchableness.

And I am wary of predicting that Trump's moment will eventually pass. I was totally wrong about his ability to captivate a significant number of Republican voters in the first place, and lots and lots of other people have been wrong about his ability to sustain that support. I think Trump's ability to tap into the anger and distrust in the electorate is the sort of thing the political establishment -- largely based in Washington -- has difficulty totally understanding.

So, maybe Clay Bennett is right about the future of Trump. But, I'm less certain of that than I have been at any point during Trump's 72 days as a candidate.
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