What was initially billed as the most predictable US election in decades has been turned on its head by the baffling popularity of wildcard Donald Trump. His arrival onto the scene was not quiet, his strategy not exactly softly-softly-catchee-monkey. Rather, the businessman stormed into the Republican race like a politicised Tasmanian devil: blindsiding his rivals in a frenzy of childish insults, controversial opinions and obnoxious boasts. Rick Perry knew he’d been out-crazied and threw in the towel. Jeb Bush is still recovering.

Media pundits and comedians alike praised the political Gods for throwing them such a juicy source of material. But then it stopped being funny. Four months down the line and Trump has not self-imploded after taking it a gaffe too far, as commentators had predicted.

On the contrary, he is still leading in the polls while the Republican Party struggles to produce a viable alternative (and God knows they have options). So just what is it about Donald Trump?

Trump’s rise to the top of the polls reveals a lot about certain sectors of American society. Disillusioned with Washington insiders and tired of manicured politicians, many people have developed an appetite for no-holds-barred straight talking. Controversial statements that are criticised by journalists, Democrats and his fellow candidates have punctuated Trump’s campaign.

Whether it’s suggesting that a majority of immigrants are murderers and rapists, or criticising his female opponents based on their looks – on Carly Fiorina, “Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that?” – Trump has no boundaries. Luckily for him these gaffes apparently do nothing in the way of dissuading his supporters that he is suitable for the role of President.

The most telling sign of his potential political longevity came when he criticised John McCain’s war record, quipping: “He’s a war hero because he was captured? I like people who weren’t captured.” That Trump (with no military record of his own) did not lose support after such comments, in a patriotic country that prides itself on respecting veterans, is shocking. If Obama had said such a thing Tea Party pitchforks would be ripping through the White House fences within minutes and calls for his impeachment would ring out across the nation.

But Trump has managed to time his campaign perfectly with a changing mood in America. While to some his political incorrectness is offensive, for others it comes as a refreshing change. By unabashedly reflecting the prejudices of his voter base he has cemented his persona as a man of the people with an authentic conservative voice.

Fret not fellow sane people, as there surely must come a time when the electorate demands substance over sound bites from their candidates. Trump has thus-far managed to avoid any real substantive discussion of policy, instead relying on a repetitive but crowd-pleasing approach of assuring audiences that he will ‘make America great again!’ without actually explaining how.

His speeches are littered with energetic assurances that “We will have so much winning (…) that you may get bored with winning!” and “Nobody is gonna mess with us!” Is he presenting a political platform or rallying a Little League team?

He deflects enquiries into his foreign policy by hiding behind the childish logic that if he revealed his strategies then America’s enemies would be ready for them. Duh! But rest assured, he knows how to solve the crisis in the Middle East. And F.Y.I – he and Putin would be great buds.

These empty words will grow stale in time and crumble under the harsh scrutiny of serious political debate. For now we can only hold on to our toupees and wait it out.

Header image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr