It's easy to chuckle at the disarray on the Republican side. It's a mess. But maybe we shouldn't be so quick to chuckle.
Anyone who studies politics knows that demographics in this country have been moving towards the Democratic side for some time now. The percentage of voters who are white has been steadily falling, Blacks, Hispanics and Asians are increasing.
But its also true that the percentage of people who could register and vote, but who actually do, is shamefully low in this country. Slightly over 50% register and in presidential years maybe 75-80% of them turnout and vote. There is huge number that don't.
The percentage of the vote that is white has been steadily falling. In the 1970's it was in the 90% + range – but its projected to be close to or under 70% this year.
So there is huge reservoir of potential voters out there who typically don't participate, the majority of them them white, at least roughly 50% of them male, a lot of them with less than a college degree. And even the younger ones who do have a degree are often finding it difficult to make their way in the world.
It's entirely possible that Trump is calculating that if he can rile white males up enough, tap into that big reservoir of potential voters on the sidelines, he can win. He calculates that white men are still large in numbers, are angry at the way the world is changing and he can be their champion.
Which might be why he is willing to piss off women, Hispanics, Muslims etc. He calculates in the end he can come out ahead, so long as he can get those angry white men. (No doubt he figures he can win back some Republican women too)
If that is true, if that is his calculation, then what he will continue to do is stoke people's anger every chance he gets. We underestimate this at our own peril.
We need to be ready for this.