Support for anti-establishment aspirants grows

NAIROBI: Donald Trump, a property and showbiz mogul, has much to the bewilderment and incredulity of the Republican Party establishment taken a commanding lead of the presidential nomination race. Trump won a majority of the states holding nominating contests on Super Tuesday, accelerating his march to the Republican nomination. Republican donors, strategists and campaign operatives interviewed by American media admitted they had misjudged the mood of voters who have thrown their support behind Trump.

When he first declared his candidacy, it was assumed he was doing it for enhanced media coverage. A lot of people have now woken up to the realisation that Donald Trump could really be the Republican presidential nominee. Yet even now, there are some who refuse to believe that the man stands a decent chance of clinching the nomination and continue to provide reasons why he could not possibly win the nomination. What Trump has been able to tap into is a wide base of disenfranchised voters who feel shortchanged by the system. The status quo or establishment failed to realise the vastness of this group or the depth of their fury. Many feel alienated and far removed from the leadership of the party which they felt did not represent their interests. Among the strongest reasons for people supporting Trump is that “he tells it like it is” and is not beholden to special interests groups since he is financing his own campaign.