Voters Search for “Authentic” Candidates

There were more interesting numbers out of Iowa this weekend. The recently released Des Moines Register/Bloomberg poll shows that both Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson are either the first of second choice of 32% of likely GOP caucus-goers.

Meanwhile, other GOP candidates are beginning to use some of Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric, like Gov. Jeb Bush’s unfortunate choice last week to use the term “anchor baby” in describing the U.S. born children of Illegal immigrants.

So why is it that Trump is doing so well in the polls? I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that it doesn’t have a whole lot to do with specific policies. It’s because both Trump and Carson seem authentic to voters. Their speeches feel unrehearsed, unplanned and unscripted. The public, having become used to “candidate-speak” designed to deliver a soundbite, yearns for the candidate that appears to be genuine. Trump is meeting that need.

What will happen when people begin to ask for specifics on policy, assuming that happens? Who knows. In the meantime, I’d like to offer to some unsolicited advice to the rest of the field. Frist, don’t let Trump set the agenda. Don’t adopt his rhetoric or address what he said at his last press conference. (BTW – check out Matt Latimer’s article in POLITICO magazine on this topic). Next, don’t treat Trump like a joke. Leave that to the late night guys. Instead, be aware of how YOU come across to voters. Have a real conversation this time. Don’t fall back on the easy soundbite. Be confident, smart, approachable and funny. And be sure to address the issues that your target demographic cares about, whether it’s taxes the Iran deal, or the growing unease that the American middle-class is falling behind.