by digby
There’s plenty of hate driving the Trump phenomenon. But there’s also plenty of inspiration of a very particular American kind.
They feel like they’ve been losing and he promised to “win” for them. Whether you feel you’ve been personally screwed by “immigration” or black people and women getting all the perks or just that you and America itself isn’t getting the respect and deference it deserves, this man said he was going to change it. It felt good.
The specifics didn’t matter in the campaign and they don’t matter now. This is what his voters (and probably a lot of other people who will come around) believe:
“Many American voters, especially Republicans, are dissatisfied with their own status and the status of the country, but by far the most dissatisfied are Donald Trump’s supporters, who strongly feel that they themselves and the country are under attack,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.
“Trump supporters are true stand-outs. They want a leader who is very different from the leader sought by other voters, explaining the mystery many see behind Trump’s support,” Dr. Schwartz added.
There is a wide partisan division among American voters on the statement, “The government has gone too far in assisting minority groups.” Agreement is 45 percent among all voters, 72 percent among all Republicans and 18 percent among Democrats. Agreement is highest among Trump backers, 80 percent.
Agreement with the statement, “What we need is a leader who is willing to say or do anything to solve America’s problems” is 53 percent among all voters, 68 percent among all Republicans and 39 percent among Democrats. Trump backers agreement is highest with 84 percent.
There is widespread agreement, 76 percent, with the statement, “Public officials don’t care much what people like me think.” Agreement is 84 percent among all Republicans and 68 percent among Democrats. Ninety percent of Trump supporters agree, the highest of any candidate.
There is a lower level of agreement, 64 percent, with the statement, “The old way of doing things no longer works and we need radical change.” Agreement is 71 percent among all Republicans and 58 percent among Democrats. Agreement is highest among Trump supporters with 83 percent.
Among all American voters, 56 percent agree with the statement, “Leaders don’t worry about what other people say; they follow their own path.” Agreement is 65 percent among all Republicans, 46 percent among Democrats and 74 percent of Trump voters agree, the highest of any candidate.
They wanted a man who said he would “win” no matter what it took.
He did it.
They will love him for it no matter what he does on policy.
I think there’s a very good chance he’s going to be popular.
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