It could be that it's simply a case of serendipity.
Donald Trump probably never expected this. It was a gimmick to get him some free press but it went viral. Like Influenza, or the Black Death.
The free press just kept coming and coming until all we see every day is more and more Donald Trump. Not paid ads like most politicians have to do but free coverage 24/7 by the news media.
And everybody knows that any publicity is good publicity.
Like any salesman Donald just told the rubes what they wanted to hear, he probably had no idea that the timing was perfect for just the sort of shtick that he was best at, that his empty rhetoric would resonate with so many. The Republican field was wide but it wasn't very deep. Rife with washed up governors, rookie senators hoping to pull of an Obama and a few charlatans in it only for the money. A failed businesswoman hoping to cash in on Hillary's ovaries, a retired surgeon, a preacher, the son of a single term president and brother to one of the worst presidents in history, a pair of Cubans and a sometimes, sort of Libertarian.
Not a one of them qualified, nor with any sort of plan beyond more obstruction.
Enter Donald Trump, who trumped them all by making unconstitutional promises, promising to torture prisoners, deport 12 million illegal immigrants and build a wall along the southern border and send troops to battle ISIS. Inciting hatred and violence, espousing racism, nationalism, xenophobia. Saying things so outrageous that no one took him seriously.
Did they call him out on it? Put forth better ideas?
Hell no, they all jumped on the Trump train and tried to outdo him in their rush to make America hate again.
The Donald just kept talking trash and rose like scum to the top of the pond. The rubes just skimmed it off and ate it up.
After a while the Trump ego just took control of the whole ball of wax, the narcissist saw his reflection in the crowd and was pleased with what he saw.
