WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – Donald Trump began his Republican presidential campaign by labeling Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals. He’s since profanely promised to bomb Islamic State fighters. He’s endorsed using torture on foreign prisoners.
In his final rally before the New Hampshire primary, Trump repeated a supporter’s shouted insult of a rival, effectively calling Texas Sen. Ted Cruz an uncouth epithet for a coward.
Yet contrary to the conventional rules of presidential politics, the bombast and vulgarity have not hurt the billionaire real estate titan’s first bid for public office. Rather, all evidence, including the exit polls of New Hampshire’s primary voters, suggests Trump’s style only helps him.
The poll was conducted for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Research as voters left their polling places at 44 randomly selected sites in New Hampshire.
About a quarter of the GOP electorate Tuesday said they want a candidate who “tells it like it is.” Trump won two-thirds of them in a field of nine candidates. Trump also claimed the advantage among the 28 percent of Republicans who said they want a candidate who “can bring needed change.” He attracted 37 percent of that group, well ahead of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who got 20 percent.