Which are the fairer assessments of the election?

[BoAtlantis]

As much as I acknowledge Trump has outperformed for someone of his persona, this was a GOP year. I am thoroughly unconvinced that only Trump could have pulled it off when a hard-core conservative like Ernst wins by 8 points in Iowa.

Kasich would have likely carried rural Midwest by a bigger margin and wouldn't have needed a huge late break from undecideds to win. Anyone who carries OH by 13 probably is carrying WI, MI, and rural PA by a good margin as well. He would have won the popular vote.

Cruz would have probably done no worse than Trump. It isn't as if he hasn't talked about securing borders or repealing Obamacare. He also would have appealed just as much to evangelicals with his promise on Supreme Court justice.

This election was beyond just rejection of Hillary or "establishment". Look at McGinty and Feingold. They did no better than her.