Donald Trump’s candidacy reminds me a bit of the 2003 campaign waged by Arnold Schwarzenegger waged for governor of California in that year’s special election. There was compelling evidence of Schwarzenegger’s insensitivity to women and his offensive language and behavior. But California was in revolt and Schwarzenegger was able to surmount the accusations, in part because they were raised in a heavy-handed fashion by the liberal Los Angeles Times.
Trump just fielded a question about his rhetoric and attitude toward women from Fox’s Megyn Kelly. His response was popular: A country in crisis doesn’t have time for political correctness.
But then he concluded with a slightly menacing reference to how Kelly’s negative question would give him the excuse not to be nice to her. Trump has a reputation as a bully, and it will be interesting to see whether the public will continue to feel his approach is refreshingly frank or the bluster of a bully. Trump is always along the knife’s edge between those perceptions.
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