In hindsight, we should have seen Donald Trump coming.
It seems so obvious now; a self-assured, bombastic, successful businessman and television personality elbows his way into a crowded and somewhat indistinguishable field of candidates. His “the-country-is-broken-and-I’m-the-only-guy-who-can-fix-it” message resonates with a growing percentage of Americans who, in fact, believe the country is a mess and Washington has made it that way.
Along the way, as his popularity soared, Trump dismissed opponents and criticism with snappy one-two punches. The media hardly had time to dwell on one barb before he issued another. The mainstream media quickly went from dismissive and appalled to intoxicated.
Trump IS the story.
West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito has not yet gotten behind any of the GOP candidates, but she likely spoke for many Americans when she told me recently, “When he comes on TV—of course he’s on all the time because he’s driving the ratings—I turn it up to see what the heck he’s going to say.”
Other candidates, finding themselves falling behind, tried to get in the ring with him, but you can’t out Trump Trump. He’s glib, quicker on his feet that the other candidates and TV savvy. A head-on Trump style confrontation typically makes the challenger appear inadequate (see: Jeb Bush).
However, at Wednesday night’s Republican debate it was Carly Fiorina’s razor sharp fillet knife that wounded Trump as none of the other challengers have been able to do. Fiorina knew the moment would come when she would be asked what she thought of Trump’s quote in Rolling Stone where he criticized her appearance.
“I think women all over the country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said,” came the steely response.
Mic drop.
It was the perfect answer, one that left the normally unflappable Trump grasping for a comeback, which was awkward and patronizing. “I think she’s got a beautiful face and I think she’s a beautiful woman.”
The audience at the Ronald Reagan Library groaned—could one imagine the Great Communicator being so tone deaf?—and just like that The Donald was slightly diminished. Fiornia had given pause to women who might be wondering about this Trump fellow, while not making herself out to be a victim.
It certainly was not a fatal blow. Trump’s appeal is real and those who support him because of his personality and panache will not be deterred by Fiorina’s dagger, but she revealed Trump’s Achilles heel; his own words are going to be his greatest weakness, especially when turned on him with the kind of aplomb Fiornia exhibited.