Very Good Points, all of them
@Mesaclone and I truly respect your opinion here, I meant no offense to you personally, you've been MIA lately and I forgot how much I usually enjoy your posts.
Your 'analysis' seems to preclude Trump's unique campaign style, 16 other GOP candidates weren't ready for it, either.
My contention is perhaps had those rust belt Conservatives in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota not been bombarded by Trump's generated BS for 8 months: 'Lyin' Ted', Goldman Sachs, Birther, Mistresses and Dad in on the JFK assassination they may have given Ted a reasonable look and gotten past that Preacher thing, instead of being convinced by their Master that 'HE' and only 'HE' could fix our problems. We all know hellary was dead woman walking, George Pataki could have beat her.