Why is Trump so popular in U.S. Republican presidential race?

Why is Donald Trump, a U.S. Republican contender for the 2016 presidential election and real estate tycoon, enjoying tremendous popularity despite a series of his controversial remarks? His presidential bid seemed to be forgotten soon after his disparaging remarks last week about Hispanics. Instead, he has surged into the lead of the nomination race, running past the previously leading Republican contender Jeb Bush, former Florida governor.

According to the result of a July 16-19 joint survey of 1,002 adults by the Washington Post and the ABC News, Trump was the favorite of 24 percent of Republic supporters, running far ahead of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (13 percent) and Jeb Bush (12 percent).

Trump is enjoying high popularity mainly because he is supported by Republican-leaning voters who are fed up with the Barack Obama administration`s progressive policies. In the Washington Post`s poll late last year, 37 percent of Republican supporters said they were angry about the way the Obama administration worked. It was the largest percentage of antipathy against an incumbent administration in 20 years.

Trump is targeting the fact that the Obama administration`s major agendas, including reforms of immigration law and health care, are unfavorable to white mainstream voters. Trump has touched on the issues that were hard to raise publicly, suggesting that many white voters are supporting Trump in various opinion polls where anonymity is guaranteed.

Trump has also been showing a charismatic leadership based on his strong self-confidence, as shown in his disparaging remarks against Hispanics. Nicknamed "Hamlet," Obama contemplates for a long time when he has to make a decision, whereas Trump makes no bones about speaking his opinion in interviews and public speeches, winning support from voters who hail his style rather than substance.

However, he is facing a major crisis. He has come under fire for saying that John McCain, who was held captive for five years during the Vietnam War, was "not a war hero." Former Texas Governor Rick Perry on Monday said, "Donald Trump`s candidacy is a cancer on conservatism." Senator Lindsey Graham, another Republican contender, called Trump a "jackass." On Tuesday, Trump claimed that "idiot" Graham had called him years ago, asking him to say good things about the senator, making yet another headlines by reading out Graham`s personal cell phone number to the public.

ddr@donga.com