Why won't a Republican become the anti-Trump?

[Brittain33]

Trump's statements against Mexican-Americans have hurt him very much with his business partners and among the general public which already had a low opinion of him. However, what's also clear is that within a highly fragmented Republican field, he's earning a John Rocker-like bounce among voters who think he's "telling the truth" and who already think he's a successful business man.

He's bounced up to a lofty 10-11%, but that's enough to stand out where there's no frontrunner. I'm pretty sure Trump is upside down on approvals even among Republican voters.

Trump is unquestionably bad for the Republican brand and will hurt the eventual candidate. My question: why isn't a candidate like Bush or Rubio casting himself as the anti-Trump? How hard would it be to mouth reasonable conservative positions on issues like immigration while slamming Trump for his language, his ridiculous racist statements about rapists, and his negative attitude toward Mexican-Americans? It seems like there's a ready niche there and that a lot of Republicans would support someone willing to be the grown-up here while still maintaining the party's positions.

[Mr. Morden]

Pataki and Graham are trying to do just that:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/01/politics/donald-trump-george-pataki-immigration-letter/
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/lindsey-graham-excoriates-the-gops-immigration-rhetoric/397295/

However, they both get virtually no media coverage, and probably won't be invited to the debates because of poor polling #s.

[King]

With the except of his bomb everything stance, Graham's running a campaign I can get behind.

[eric82oslo]

Wait till the first debate. Then Trump will be attacked by a lot of them for sure. Obviously, Trump will hit back hard as well.

[Rockefeller GOP]

With the except of his bomb everything stance, Graham's running a campaign I can get behind.

[DS0816]

Re: Why won't a Republican become the anti-Trump?

The reason is that Donald Trump well-represents the Republican Party.

[Progressive]

Because the fact of the matter is that at its core, the GOP agrees with the substance behind Trump's comments, as evidenced by its actions on a slew of issues. The only issue with Trump is that he's a very flawed messenger and that he doesn't necessarily hold the experience to be president. 

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Because the main streamers will benefit from Trump doing well. If conservatives get behind someone who is unable to get the nomination like Trump, more standard rightists like Walker and Cruz are locked out

[Mister Mets]

Whoever takes it upon themselves to correct Trump every time he says something stupid is going to be a busy man (or lady in Fiorina's case.)

[okierepublican]

Because no one wants to be the person that trump focuses his attack on. If he decides "I am going to take down Rubio" he has the money and the presence if he gets on a debate stage to just attacks him viciously and hurt him. Also he's a joke so no one wants to validate him by attacking himz

[CountryClassSF]

Because we agree with Trump. Folks who are upset with him aren't questioning his facts.

The establishment is wildly out of step with the conservative base, who doesn't want an open border, who doesn't want to capitulate on multiple issues.

Trump would be better off starting a SuperPAC than running for President.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Re: Why won't a Republican become the anti-Trump?

The reason is that Donald Trump well-represents the Republican Party.

You're a hack.

[Vega]

With the except of his bomb everything stance, Graham's running a campaign I can get behind.

Too bad that's what he's running on, and 84% of what he talks about.