The problem is that he isn't running against Republicans any more. Lindsey Graham said a choice between Trump and Cruz was like choosing between being shot or poisoned. In many ways, Cruz is more of a right-wing wingnut than Trump. Rubio was just as extreme, albeit a little more likeable.
Using the Republican primaries as a guide to the general election is misguided. If a voter wants to vote for a small government conservative who isn't a narcissistic bigot, he or she can vote for the Libertarian candidate. I doubt that Trump will appeal to too many left-wingers.
The other thing is that Trump's vote in the primaries wasn't underestimated by the polls. The polls predicted his success. The notable exception was the Iowa Caucuses where the polls predicted a solid win to Trump but Cruz ended up winning after his team sent around an email that falsely suggested Ben Carson had withdrawn from the race. On the other hand, the nice guy Establishment candidate, Jeb Bush, did just as badly in the polls as in the Primaries and Ben Carson tanked as well. So where is the evidence that he has secret support? Given he has big turnouts at his rallies, it doesn't look as though his supporters are particularly bashful.
Using the Republican primaries as a guide to the general election is misguided. If a voter wants to vote for a small government conservative who isn't a narcissistic bigot, he or she can vote for the Libertarian candidate. I doubt that Trump will appeal to too many left-wingers.
The other thing is that Trump's vote in the primaries wasn't underestimated by the polls. The polls predicted his success. The notable exception was the Iowa Caucuses where the polls predicted a solid win to Trump but Cruz ended up winning after his team sent around an email that falsely suggested Ben Carson had withdrawn from the race. On the other hand, the nice guy Establishment candidate, Jeb Bush, did just as badly in the polls as in the Primaries and Ben Carson tanked as well. So where is the evidence that he has secret support? Given he has big turnouts at his rallies, it doesn't look as though his supporters are particularly bashful.