Trump v Carson

[Simfan34]

How will this go down? Mediaite has an idea:

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http://www.mediaite.com/online/what-happens-when-donald-trump-attacks-ben-carson/

[Maxwell]

There is nothing that will assure Ben Carson beats Trump more than if Trump says that "people are supporting Carson so the PC left doesn't call us racist". In a sense, that means Trump is questioning their intentions, and there is nothing the right dislikes more than that.

[Torie]

"Trump can begin by complimenting Carson’s “inspirational” story and medical brilliance, but then pivot to his lack of leadership experience. “He’s a wonderful guy, but we’re not fixing brains here, we’re getting killed by China. We’re not separating Siamese twins, we’re separating Mexico from Texas with a beautiful wall!”

The above is the way to do it, and it's basically true. Carson is a nice guy, but not qualified to be POTUS. Trump isn't either, and has a temperament and judgment problem to boot, but a big chunk of the Pubs don't give a damn about that apparently. It's sad the two current front runners for the Pubs are so totally unqualified to be POTUS. It makes Mittens look like a veritable political God in comparison. Where have all the flowers gone?  But miracles can and do happen, and maybe Kasich will rise and save the polity from itself. Keep hope alive!

[Ljube]

There is no need for Trump to attack Carson. Both are outsiders and crusaders against political correctness.

Since Carson won't attack Trump and isn't ruling out becoming his VP, I think that is precisely what's going to happen. Between the two of them, they'll have enough votes to clinch the nomination.

[Torie]

There is no need for Trump to attack Carson. Both are outsiders and crusaders against political correctness.

Since Carson won't attack Trump and isn't ruling out becoming his VP, I think that is precisely what's going to happen. Between the two of them, they'll have enough votes to clinch the nomination.

So the Pubs have a ticket where both are unqualified to be POTUS? It just gets curiouser and curiouser.

[Mehmentum]

I'm not certain that Trump needs to attack Carson.  While Carson does lead Trump in head to heads, I don't think the race could ever come down to a head to head between Carson and Trump. 

Suppose Carson wins Iowa and Trump wins New Hampshire, does that mean every other candidate drops out?  No.  It will be a messy process, but I think that one establishment candidate emerges as the consensus to save the GOP from the 'barbarians'.

In this scenario, a brokered convention becomes quite likely.  Trump will want to have a cordial relationship with Carson and his supporters for the convention.  Fighting with Carson would also be counterproductive, because it would play into the hands of the third candidate.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

"Trump can begin by complimenting Carson’s “inspirational” story and medical brilliance, but then pivot to his lack of leadership experience. “He’s a wonderful guy, but we’re not fixing brains here, we’re getting killed by China. We’re not separating Siamese twins, we’re separating Mexico from Texas with a beautiful wall!”

The above is the way to do it, and it's basically true. Carson is a nice guy, but not qualified to be POTUS. Trump isn't either, and has a temperament and judgment problem to boot, but a big chunk of the Pubs don't give a damn about that apparently. It's sad the two current front runners for the Pubs are so totally unqualified to be POTUS. It makes Mittens look like a veritable political God in comparison. Where have all the flowers gone?  But miracles can and do happen, and maybe Kasich will rise and save the polity from itself. Keep hope alive!

The idea of having someone you identify with and understands "people like me" rather than an expert is a large part of the appeal to both Trump and Carson.  So this is one place Trump can't go.  I don't think Trump can do much to attack Carson without it backfiring.


This is a strikingly wrongheaded article at Mediaite.  First comment is correct: "Attacking Dr. Carson is like attacking Mr. Rogers."

[Ljube]

"Trump can begin by complimenting Carson’s “inspirational” story and medical brilliance, but then pivot to his lack of leadership experience. “He’s a wonderful guy, but we’re not fixing brains here, we’re getting killed by China. We’re not separating Siamese twins, we’re separating Mexico from Texas with a beautiful wall!”

The above is the way to do it, and it's basically true. Carson is a nice guy, but not qualified to be POTUS. Trump isn't either, and has a temperament and judgment problem to boot, but a big chunk of the Pubs don't give a damn about that apparently. It's sad the two current front runners for the Pubs are so totally unqualified to be POTUS. It makes Mittens look like a veritable political God in comparison. Where have all the flowers gone?  But miracles can and do happen, and maybe Kasich will rise and save the polity from itself. Keep hope alive!

The idea of having someone you identify with and understands "people like me" rather than an expert is a large part of the appeal to both Trump and Carson.  So this is one place Trump can't go.  I don't think Trump can do much to attack Carson without it backfiring.

The only way of attacking Carson that wouldn't backfire is to claim that he is low energy.
That's something Trump could use occasionally, but I doubt he'll use it systematically.

[pho]

Trump doesn't need to attack Carson because Carson doesn't have the sort of resiliency that Trump does. Carson wont get away with political faux pas once he's under the microscope, especially not if his billing is the anti-Trump savior.

[Maxwell]

Trump doesn't need to attack Carson because Carson doesn't have the sort of resiliency that Trump does. Carson wont get away with political faux pas once he's under the microscope, especially not if his billing is the anti-Trump savior.

The difference is that Carson is resilient because the conservative groups always rally behind him when he says the stuff he says.

[Mehmentum]

Carson is likely going to be this cycle's evangelical candidate.  Both Santorum and Huckabee got 20.43% of the primary vote (exactly, in fact).  Carson, if he sticks around, will get about that much as well.  The reason why he polls higher than that in the head to heads is that all of the 'anybody-but-Trump' people are voting for Carson.

I think its very unlikely that the contest will narrow down to only Carson and Trump.  There's bound to be an establishment candidate in there somewhere.