IS TRUMP TRUMPING ALL? – AT 10:31 A.M. ET:  A new poll shows the stubborn strength that Donald Trump is maintaining.  Is it really a tribute to him, though, or is it a rebellion against the party establishment?  From Rasmussen:   

If “The Donald” loses the Republican presidential nomination and runs as a third-party candidate, he definitely could put a crimp in GOP hopes to reclaim the White House.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of Likely U.S. Voters say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for Trump if he is not chosen as the GOP nominee and runs as a third party candidate. But that includes only 14% who say they are Very Likely to vote for him. Sixty-eight percent (68%) say they are unlikely to vote for the billionaire developer if he runs as a third-party presidential candidate, with 51% who say it’s Not At All Likely.

Worrisome for Republicans, however, is the finding that over a third (36%) of Likely GOP Voters say they are likely to vote for Trump if he’s a third-party candidate, with 18% who are Very Likely to do so. One-in-three (33%) voters who are not affiliated with either major party also are likely Trump voters, including 16% who say they are Very Likely to vote for him if he runs third-party.

Even 19% of Democrats describe themselves as likely Trump voters, although that includes just nine percent (9%) who say they are Very Likely to vote that way.

COMMENT:  Before we panic, we should note that it's still very early.  I still maintain that Trump will flame out.  He, like Chris Christie, has the kind of personality that doesn't wear well.  But I could be very wrong.  Clearly, there's a rebellion going on in the GOP, and the party must address it.

August 3, 2015