Grassroots Republicans want the next president to be a "fighter" and "somebody to stand up for America" – and that's why Donald Trump's blunt-spoken message is resonating, according to conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly.
In an interview Wednesday with "Newsmax Prime" host J.D. Hayworth on
Newsmax TV, Schlafly, the founder of Eagle Forum, says the real estate billionaire is "raising issues that nobody else is willing to talk about."
"He's been talking about the illegal immigration question, and that is an immense issue with the grassroots," Schlafly said. "But nobody else wants to talk about it, so we thank Donald Trump for bringing it to the fore."
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Schlafly, who said she's not endorsing any particular GOP candidate yet, said voters are "tired of people who are not fighters."
"We thought that [House Speaker John] Boehner and the Republican Congress we elected [last November] would stop our president from doing the illegal things that he's been doing and using executive authority in a way that never was intended to be used," she said.
"But Donald Trump has shown that he's a man of action. … [I]t's pretty obvious why he is resonating with the grassroots. The grassroots want a fighter. They want somebody to stand up for America."
Schlafly added that she hopes the GOP presidential candidates in Thursday's debate "will talk about things American people are really interested in, such as the scandal of Planned Parenthood and the scandal of the
crimes that are committed by the illegal aliens who [President Barack] Obama has let into this country."
Republican strategist Noelle Nikpour said with the 10 top-polling Republicans debating Thursday night, a "good debate" would focus on Hillary Clinton, and "who will be the best person that can be paired up against" her.
"But but I fear with this group, because it's so competitive, I fear that they're going to end up turning and making jabs at one another to try to come out the 'winner' of the debate – if you can have one."