A former campaign adviser for Donald Trump said that the real-estate mogul's strategy to win the presidency consisted of "common sense."
Sam Nunberg, who helped Trump launch his bid for the presidency, said during an interview for "Unprecedented: The Election That Changed Everything," CNN's book about the election:
"The Republican primary voter will want it. And Washington will immediately tell you, 'You can't do that.' That's the elite class telling you, 'We're smarter than you and you don't know what's good for you.' . . . Further infuriating the voter, and making the voter more dedicated to Trump."
Trump used that tactic in his efforts to sway voters, such as slamming establishment politicians and calling for a wall to be built on the Mexican-U.S. border.
Nunberg praised the idea of the wall, calling it "genius," and noting the symbolism behind it, CNN notes.
"It touches on immigration, so it's a policy issue. Two, it touches on Trump's brand. Builder. Developer. Three, it fits the rationale and appeal of his candidacy. The wall. Subliminally, you're saying it's time to take care of America's problems," Nunberg said.
Trump's call to build a border wall was not only about the literal construction of a barrier, but it was also about representing the billionaire developer as a guardian for Americans against mainstream politics, Nunberg adds.
"Then you have the wall between the Trump people and the establishment people. And every single time you mentioned the word wall, wall, wall, Trump, Trump, Trump on TV, the prospective primary voter is going to think 'Trump. He's our protective wall. To protect us.'"
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