Did Trump acknowleding Dubya's existence help him win?

[darklordoftech]

Throughout Obama's Presidency, the GOP pretended that Dubya didn't exist and worshipped Reagan while claiming that Obama and the Clintons were the roots of all evil. That changed when, during the 2016 Republican primary debates, Trump talked about Dubya in his attacks on Jeb. Did Republican voters feel that, by acknowledging that Dubya existed and caused many of America's problems, Trump was saying what everyone knew to be true but that the GOP establishment wasn't willing to say, and did voters reward
Trump for this?

[South Dakota Democrat]

Probably a small number, but I doubt it was decisive.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Throughout Obama's Presidency, the GOP pretended that Dubya didn't exist and worshipped Reagan while claiming that Obama and the Clintons were the roots of all evil. That changed when, during the 2016 Republican primary debates, Trump talked about Dubya in his attacks on Jeb. Did Republican voters feel that, by acknowledging that Dubya existed and caused many of America's problems, Trump was saying what everyone knew to be true but that the GOP establishment wasn't willing to say, and did voters reward
Trump for this?

Yes, because people have routinely failed to acknowledge and understand that three of the major strains that combined together to form the tea party, were all in some ways hostile to Bush.

Opponents of the Iraq War - Ron Paul Movement
Opponents of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Opposition to the Bank Bailouts.

One of the worst moments in a debate for Romney was when he fumbled the ball in answering how he was different from Bush and in a measure of pure genius, Obama who got to respond second answered for him and said, "Yea he is different, he is worse!"

[darklordoftech]

Throughout Obama's Presidency, the GOP pretended that Dubya didn't exist and worshipped Reagan while claiming that Obama and the Clintons were the roots of all evil. That changed when, during the 2016 Republican primary debates, Trump talked about Dubya in his attacks on Jeb. Did Republican voters feel that, by acknowledging that Dubya existed and caused many of America's problems, Trump was saying what everyone knew to be true but that the GOP establishment wasn't willing to say, and did voters reward
Trump for this?

Yes, because people have routinely failed to acknowledge and understand that three of the major strains that combined together to form the tea party, were all in some ways hostile to Bush.

Opponents of the Iraq War - Ron Paul Movement
Opponents of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Opposition to the Bank Bailouts.

One of the worst moments in a debate for Romney was when he fumbled the ball in answering how he was different from Bush and in a measure of pure genius, Obama who got to respond second answered for him and said, "Yea he is different, he is worse!"

Don't forget Medicare Part D, No Child Left Behind, deficit spending in general, and Dubya calling Islam a "religion of peace".

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

I think it helped more that he completely repudiated Bush. Any of the other Republican candidates was closer to Dubya than Trump was.

[morgankingsley]

when did he bring up dubya

[RFayette]

when did he bring up dubya

In a debate running up to the SC GOP primary, Trump absolutely excoriated George W Bush over the Iraq War.

[morgankingsley]

when did he bring up dubya

In a debate running up to the SC GOP primary, Trump absolutely excoriated George W Bush over the Iraq War.

Interesting

[brucejoel99]

Probably a small number, but I doubt it was decisive.

This, but the number was probably small enough that it was in no way significant.