Local Republicans Don’t Think Trump Has the Nomination Wrapped Up

Of all the votes cast in the republican primary on Super Tuesday, Donald Trump received about 35%, Cruz got 31% and Rubio was at 20%.
Traditional republicans who fear a Trump victory at the convention in July are finding encouragement in Tuesday’s numbers, but no one is denying that Trump’s message is ringing true to many voters here in the Tennessee valley.

OSCAR BROCK, HAMILTON CO. GOP ACTIVIST “These are people who truly like Donald Trump. They think he can be the change agent that we so desperately need in this country—I don’t happen to agree that he’s that change agent.”

Chattanoogan Oscar Brock is a long-time GOP activist who will likely become a delegate for his candidate, Marco Rubio, this year.
But Donald Trump is getting all the attention and Brock admits his message is hitting home.

OSCAR BROCK “They’re all over the place. they’re– some of them are democrats, some are independents, some of them republican …all of them are frustrated they haven’t had a voice in government in a long, long time. ”

UTC’s Political Science Professor Dr. Michelle Deardorff agrees.

DR. MICHELLE DEARDORFF, UTC POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPT. “You have a group of people who’ve seen the world change around them, that have watched the economy change, that have watched values change, that have watched priorities change, they’re concerned, angry , they’re frightened, and we’ve watched increased polarization and I think we see the Donald Trump phenomenon tapping into this.”

Dr. Deardorff sees the same frustration on the other side of the ballot.

MICHELLE DEARDORFF “I think the democratic party has done something similar…with voters of color, encouraging them, their concerns, their fears without offering them alternatives. If they’re not careful, we could see a similar phenomenon on the left. ..within the next 15 years.”

Brock thinks if Rubio can rally, and even win his native Florida in two weeks Trump will not have it wrapped up.

OSCAR BROCK “.. .right now if all three candidates ..three major candidates ..20% stayed in the race its seems unlikely that any one candidate will have enough delegates by Cleveland in July to sew up the nomination of the first ballot.”

On Thursday night, Bill talks with other political observers in Chattanooga about options the GOP has in finding an opponent for Hillary Clinton in November.