I early on had a sense that Trump sort of backed into the whole presidential campaigning process -, if not on a lark, then for publicity (a new bestseller, at the very least). It may well be that nobody was more surprised by his prolonged success in the GOP Primaries than he himself. And it may be that the plan always was (or has morphed into) plans for an ideosyncratic media empire.
This would also explain why a guy who really doesn't seem to like policy or detailed management is running for the most stressful job in the world.
It's unclear (it may never be clear, lacking some insider story or leaked document) whether the discussion of "Trump TV" and a new media endeavor was a result of his success, or part of the plan all along. Either seems plausible.
Nor does this mean that the Trump nomination and campaign isn't just the threat it seems to be (given it remains within the realm of plausibility that he could still win, and it's uncertain whether he would stay on and simply let Pence run the day-to-day details, or would in fact step down after inauguration, neither of which is a pleasant prospect), or that the ugly bits and bobs of Trump's personality aren't real (only, perhaps, why he's not doing a more focused job of hiding them).
It's worth always remembering, though, that Trump is the ultimate huckster — selling image, selling the name, getting investors, making a profit, then getting out of Dodge. That this whole candidacy was a publicity scheme that ended up going farther than anyone expected is not beyond the realm of possibility. The damage it's potentially done to the body politic (as well as, ironically, the potential gains it's opened up for the Democrats) are, in this scenario, simply unimportant (to him) side effects of this latest deal.
Originally shared by +Guy Kawasaki:
Donald Trump Might Not Be Running for President
