A Tip of the Hat to Richard W.

Welcome to a big week, Friends,

Here's a question. What kind of moron lets someone question his citizenship, wipe the floor with his reputation by calling him a liar, his wife ugly and his father part of a plot to assassinate JFK, then turns around and endorses that same someone for President?

The answer: any loyal Republican.

Hats off to Richard W. Hatch.

He called it.

Richard W. "Dick" Hatch, the grand old man
of politics.

Regular readers will know who this late gentleman of the Old South and political maven was. I've written about my old boss at UNC Public TV before.

I've named the phenomenon, which ol' Richard W. first observed and studied for a lifetime, 'The Hatch Principle' in his honor.

In it, the perennially fractured GOP dependably congeals for elections, then blows apart again thereafter,

And it's certainly proving true for Donald J. Trump.

Just look at who came around last week--none other than Senator Ted Cruz--his much-maligned principal opponent who had the temerity to diss the GOP nominee at his own coronation.

If Cruz can turn around and give Trump a full-throated endorsement, that means any Republican can and probably will...vote for him at least. This includes Ohio Governor John Kasich and the Bush family.

Trump will have as much GOP voter support as did both John McCain and Mitt Romney--in the neighborhood of 90+ percent.

He should get that and then some, and the majority of his supporters are extremely enthusiastic about him. They WILL turn out and vote.

This is Hillary Clinton's big challenge.

The Hatch Principle only applies to the Republican party. And though Hillary has general support among Democrats, it's not 90 percent, and it's lukewarm at best.

The Clinton and Democratic machines will have to work extra hard to turn out their base to the polls (which includes physically driving thousands of voters there), or Trump can start measuring the White House marquis for another one of his trademark signs.

'Nuff said.

Barring  a complete breakdown on the debate stage tomorrow night, and that's not likely, Trump could be on a glide path to a smooth landing at Reagan National.

One caveat. I've had to remind myself not to underestimate Donald Trump. I also need to do the same for the Clinton machine.