By Jonathan Easley – 08/31/15 07:37 PM EDT
The summer belonged to Donald Trump.
The billionaire businessman and reality TV star cemented his standing as the GOP frontrunner in August, kicking off the month with a feisty and unapologetic debate performance and closing it out with direct attacks to Jeb Bush.
He heads into the fall with momentum after having orchestrated what Republicans are describing as a months-long clinic in the race for the presidential nomination.
Trump is leading in the polls; blanketing the airwaves; relishing the role of attack dog against his opponents and the media, and forcing the other candidates to adapt to a race that’s being run on his terms.
He has perfected a style and message that resonates with the conservative base’s long-simmering frustration with party leadership. And he’s owned the hot-button issue of immigration, successfully driving the policy discussion to the right.
While Trump finished the month of July atop the polls nationally, few political watchers took his rise seriously.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/252379-how-trump-won-the-summer-of-2015
