Donald Trump, who has been portrayed as perhaps the most antiestablishment candidate of all time, seems to have suddenly gained the support of the GOP establishment.
Guests of Sunday's episode of Meet the Press with Chuck Todd discussed Trump's favorability ratings among Republicans as compared to Ted Cruz.
"Trump could end up being the establishment alternative to Cruz," said political consultant Alex Castellanos.
He went on to explain how establishment Republicans are turning to Trump because they're afraid of Cruz.
"They're beginning to get comfortable with the idea that Trump, 'Okay, he's a deal maker, he's a salesman, he'll adapt, he'll make the next deal, he could run left of Hillary, whatever.' But Cruz is kind of bound to who he is," Castenallos said.
Glenn reacted on radio Monday.
"Wait a minute. The establishment is starting to go with Donald Trump, who could, quote, 'run to the left of Hillary or whatever,'" Glenn said. "It's astounding. Just astounding what's happening."
Listen to the segment or read the transcript below.
Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors.
GLENN: From Chuck Todd from Meet the Press, where he is stunned at what is happening, how the establishment is embracing now Donald Trump. And let's play a little of the audio that you have, and then we'll come back with the Chuck Todd. But here's a little bit of audio from this weekend.
VOICE: Got 30 percent saying they will never caucus for Donald Trump, whereas only 17 percent say that about Cruz.
VOICE: Trump is running the smartest campaign of anyone right now because he's engaging Cruz in Iowa because he wants to be the alternative to Cruz, should Cruz win in Iowa, as they go to New Hampshire. Trump could end up being the establishment alternative to Cruz in the end.
(laughter)
GLENN: Could be the establishment alternative to Cruz.
PAT: Yeah. This from all his supporters who keep telling us he's the antiestablishment candidate, right? Donald Trump is supposedly the guy who the establishment hates.
GLENN: Now, listen to the analysis of what they say on Meet the Press of why the establishment is backing him.
STU: Establishment Republicans are jumping on Cruz for this because they fear him as a Republican nominee more than they fear Trump. They're beginning to get comfortable with the idea that Trump, okay, he's a dealmaker. He's a salesman. He'll adapt. He'll make the next deal. He can run left of Hillary or whatever. But Cruz is kind of bound to who he is, and they fear he might -- and then Chuck Todd interrupts.
And that's the sense I get all of a sudden now. If you're going to make us pick, the establishment, if you're going to make us pick, we'll pick Trump over Cruz.
I mean, that --
GLENN: If I'm -- if I am running the Cruz campaign, I'm making that into a commercial.
STU: Yeah. Yeah.
GLENN: I'm making -- there's the Washington establishment sitting on Meet the Press trying to figure out, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute. The establishment is starting to go with Donald Trump, who could, quote, run to the left of Hillary or whatever." And he's a dealmaker. And you know that's true. He's a dealmaker. Do you think a guy who said in the Republican debate, actually -- when he actually said in the debate, "Hey, universal health care works in Canada," do you really think he's the guy to repeal Obamacare or to fix it? He's the guy to fix it. He has said the problem with Washington is not government. The problem is we have stupid people running our government. I don't believe that. I believe government is stupid. It's too far away from the problems. Government in Washington is too far away from you. So it acts in irrational ways. It doesn't solve the problems. It makes it worse.
It's astounding. Just astounding what's happening.
STU: Again, this guy has been portrayed as the antiestablishment candidate of all time. Obviously he says things that are controversial. And there's reason to understand that. But think, is there a more establishment thing you can do in your life than give hefty sums of money to both parties to win favors from the government? It's what every establishment figure does in our system. It's the problem with our system. And that's how he built his career.
GLENN: I get along with everybody.
STU: Yeah. I get along with everybody.
GLENN: I give money to everybody. I don't care.
STU: It's not about ideology.
PAT: Which makes it worse.
STU: It's not about those things.
PAT: It makes it worse.
STU: It makes it much worse. It's all for his own personal benefit.
PAT: But his supporters think it's okay because he's been on the giving end, not the receiving end. They're not asking him for the favors, he's giving them money and asking them for the favors. That's better? In what way? How is that better?
STU: What he's talking about --
PAT: It's still him in the system.
GLENN: Let's call that what that is. A bribe.
PAT: Yeah.
GLENN: I'm expecting you to do something if I give you money.
PAT: Show up at my wedding, or whatever.
GLENN: So is it worse or is it exactly the same? The judge that receives a bribe and changes his decision based on that money, is that worse than the guy going to the judge and saying, "Hey, listen, I need a little help here. Here's 5,000 -- they both go to jail. Both of them.
STU: Yeah, what he's described, what Donald Trump has described is a federal crime. He's admitted to doing it.
Now, right now, no one seems to be interested in that. I'm interested to see if he becomes the Republican nominee for president if anyone should pursue such a thing. Would you think then they'll find interest in the fact that he's been going around the country admitting he's buying favors from different politicians? I mean, he's been saying it as his excuse for his own behavior for a long time.
Featured Image: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Bridge View Center on January 9, 2016 in Ottumwa, Iowa. Trump emphasized the importance of voter turnout in beating his nearest rival, Ted Cruz. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
