On the Campaign Trail in N.H.: Dispatch 5 (Trump)

JAN 27 — I have long held that if our politicians are not going to be effective, they should at least be entertaining. (That is why I've always had a soft spot for French and Italian elections...ahhh Berlusconi - the best!)

So it was with real anticipation that I joined the cavalcade to witness first-hand the Donald in action at the high school gymnasium in Farmington. 

Farmington is a sad example of the loss of American manufacturing jobs...in the 19th century. Once a thriving shoe manufacturing center, it is now one of the poorest towns in NH with median income below $17,000 and over 10% of its residents below the poverty line (2000 census.) I share this information because Mr. Trump - or his handlers - didn't take the time (about 3 minutes on Wikipedia ) to learn anything about his audience of nearly 1200.

The crowd was set for a spectacle and when Queen's We Will Rock You began blaring, we were all on our feet awaiting the grand entrance...nothing...for 4 more minutes. Finally he was at the podium...the stomping and cheering deafening...here it comes, wait for it... not "Hello Farmington!", no, he began by laconically reading his poll numbers for nearly 5 minutes, and then reading an article written about himself for several more minutes. All the while the energy in the hall was oozing out the Secret Service guarded doors. Did he notice? Did he care that he was now sharing an anecdote about his Mira Lago - a place that no one in that room was ever going to visit? And did he notice that only a handful of his ardent red hats (about 200 people) were still screaming and urging him on while the rest gave only desultory responses?

To be gracious, Trump appeared as bored with his own words as I was...an incredible opportunity squandered by a man that looked and acted as if he had fallen into the green room of Duck Dynasty instead of the Apprentice.