If someone had predicted forty years ago that one person would emerge on the national political stage and dominate the political conversation on a daily basis, you would declared that person to be? Well pick the adjective you like to describe such a far-fetched notion.

Well boys and girls, that prediction has not only come true, but it shows no sign of diminishing and Donald Trump could not be happier.

His dominance in the political arena is so critical that his endorsement wand can send candidates for office from being a non-contender to a winner.

Ask Tudor Dixon.

Stuck in the middle of a crowed male dominated GOP primary for governor, the popular wisdom, right or wrong, was that there were more qualified candidates than this first-time entrant into statewide Michigan politics so that the voters would not pick her. That is until the weekend before the August primary when somehow, someway, she finagled an endorsement from the president and as they say, the rest is history. She won the GOP primary.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the General Election against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The Trump endorsement meant very little once you got past his hefty base of about 35% of the Republican party in Michigan. Fact is nobody can win with 35% of the vote unless you can attract independents, disgruntled Democrats and moderate Republicans, what’s left of them, to get to 50%.

Which brings us to one John James, the apparent front-runner in the three person GOP primary for governor along with Mike Cox and Perry Johnson.

He’s already nailed the President’s blessing and now the pundit world is checking in on what that means for the fall election against a Democratic opponent.

“Trump’s numbers are so low that it is not a benefit for a Republican to have an endorsement from him among independents…”

“This is not going to be a good year for Republicans because the Democrats are really motivated to vote and the Republicans are not.”

Say hello to veteran pollster Bernie Porn (quote number one above) and Steve Mitchell (quote two.)

These guys make a living at sifting the polling data for trends and insights that can help point to what might, repeat, might happen in the fall.

There are two sides to every column and this one is no exception.

“I feel good about where we are.”

“It is early in the game and a lot of activity between now and November.”

Bid hello to House GOP Speaker Matt Hall who keeps telling everyone that he will be the top dog in the Michigan House for the next four years. But he won’t be if President Trump’s popularity does not translate into more than 35% of the GOP vote in the Michigan House contest. .

Speaker Hall is from the “what? Me worry” camp and does not appear bothered by the pundit analysis.

“I think when you see the president focusing more and more on the mid-term election and driving out the mid term voters, the Trump voters, he is going to help us get those voters out” and if that happens he predicts his side will prevail.

The second Republican offering quote two is former GOP candidate for governor Bill Schuette who had the president’s Full Monty when he ran against Jennifer Granholm. Recall she won.

He contends the endorsement was not the reason he lost. It was the movement sweeping the nation during the mid-term elections that saw Republicans lose just about everything except the local dog catcher.

]The critical questions are being debated now in this highly charged political climate.

Since voters more often than not vote their pocketbooks, or this year, their gas tanks, can the economy turnaround by November and the corollary is can the presidents polling number do a back flip?

“It would probably hake an unforeseen miracle for those numbers to change,” asserts Mr. Porn.

Mr. Mitchell is starring at this number. Voters were asked if they were more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate boasting a presidential endorsement?

57% reported, nope.

He was also asked if the economy can turn on a dime by November.

He did not pause.

“No I don’t believe so.”

But to the degree that history is any kind of predictor about the future, the Republicans would be quick to remind you that after the first Gulf war, then the senior President George Bush was off the popularity charts at a whopping 89% approval.

But when the Bush family counted the votes at the Texas ranch on election night, it was clear the sitting president would need new digs in January.

Hence, with fingers crossed, the Rs argue, just wait and see. If anybody can pull this off, he’s the one to do it. After all nobody predicted anyone could control the news cycle as he has so masterfully done either.