re: #3 Jay C

Thanks to Charles and the other Lizards for the responses, though what I was looking for was some sort of explanation why Trump’s poll suddenly went UP: Combover Caligula’s downticks are, IMO, pretty self-explanatory….

re: #33 calochortus

But who would replace him? If there had been a popular, unifying candidate anywhere in sight during the primaries, Trump wouldn’t be the presumptive nominee.

True. And also, I think the Republicans will have screwed themselves royally in any event. Even assuming (and IMO, this scenario deserves a ride of its own in Fantasyland) the RNC could get it together to “replace” Trump at the Convention with - Jeez, who? Ryan? Cruz? Joni “Hog-gelder” Ernst? - the Party’s brand will have been severely damaged for this election cycle at least. Dump Trump, and you have a YUUUUGE segment of the base YUUUUGELY pissed off (? write-in Trump? Third-party?), nominate Trump, and you piss off more large segments of the electorate. And accomplish the astonishing political feat of making the Democrats look like the best-organized political party in the country.