Do Republicans fear the Trumpnado?

By David M. Drucker, David M. Drucker

Published December 20, 2015

How do you solve a problem like The Donald?

Top Republicans are flummoxed by billionaire businessman and entertainer Donald J. Trump, 69, unsure just how worried they should be that his penchant for making offensive, controversial comments could crater the GOP brand and damage their prospects against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Republican operatives working the trenches of the primary campaign fret that Trumpisms, such as calling illegal immigrants from Mexico "rapists," as he did last month while announcing his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, could doom the party with minorities and independents in November 2016.

But many veteran party bigwigs aren't concerned, dismissing the New Yorker as a clown whose campaign will be overshadowed by the depth and quality of the GOP's White House field.