That's because Trump wasn't even expected to run, and the field he was running against was some of the single most unpalatable Republican candidates ever. The best candidate that year that wasn't Trump was Ted Cruz, and not the theoretically-based bearded version we have today. The media was basically saying that the presidency was going to be decided between Hillary & Jeb, and the unanimous consensus was that everyone else wanted to vote Suicide.
That's when Trump stepped in and changed the fucking game by being an actual populist.
And now there are at least 2 good options. And we're 2 years out from the election. So making an argument comparing the popularity of an ex-president and a state governor at this time isn't reasonable.
That's because Trump wasn't even expected to run, and the field he was running against was some of the single most unpalatable Republican candidates ever. The best candidate that year that wasn't Trump was Ted Cruz, and not the theoretically-based bearded version we have today. The media was basically saying that the presidency was going to be decided between Hillary & Jeb, and the unanimous consensus was that everyone else wanted to vote Suicide.
That's when Trump stepped in and changed the fucking game by being an actual populist.
And now there are at least 2 good options. And we're 2 years out from the election. So making an argument comparing the popularity of an ex-president and a state governor at this time isn't reasonable.