I have to say I'm a bit surprised that Don Rickles is now apparently a Republican contender. 

DONALD TRUMP: “So I’m looking at little Marco and I’m saying man there’s something happening with him and he’s like melting.”

((EDIT))

MARCO RUBIO: “He’s always calling me little Marco.  I’ll admit, he’s taller than me – he’s like 6’2’’ – which is why I don’t understand why his hands are the size of someone who is 5’2’’.” (LAUGHS) ((EDIT)) And you know what they say about men with small hands?”

((EDIT))

TRUMP: “You had to see him backstage.  He was putting on makeup with a trowel! (Mimics using a roller to apply his makeup) ((EDIT)) I will not say that he was trying to cover up his ears!”

((EDIT))

RUBIO: “He doesn’t sweat because his pores are clogged from the spray tan that he uses!”

Now that's not exactly the Lincoln-Douglas debate is it?

But here's why it's happening:

In the beginning of the campaign, Donald Trump did something very brilliant.  He staked out two essential issues that he knew Republican voters were angry about: the border and the economy.

But rather than getting into policy, Mr. Trump kept it simple.  He'll build a wall and deport illegal aliens.

He'll make deals that will turn the economy around and punish countries like China and Mexico that he believes are treating the USA unfairly.

That quickly got the new candidate a lot of attention and criticism.

Trump then immediately counter-attacked, using hot rhetoric that most politicians would never even consider.

That got him even more popularity.  The more he insulted, the higher his poll numbers climbed.

So he's two for two.  He chooses emotional issues, simplifying them for potential voters, then scorches anyone who doesn't like it.

Even if you don't like Mr. Trump, you have to admit the strategy has been brilliant and he would not be leading in the polls today if he had not employed it.

The other Republican candidates were taken by surprise as he hammered Jeb Bush and anyone else Trump considered to be a rival.

After months of watching Trump's poll numbers go up, finally Senators Rubio and Cruz began to counterattack in the same way.

The problem for both Rubio and Cruz is that Americans do not know them, and the media has paid so much attention to Donald Trump that getting well known is almost impossible.

Unless of course you hurl insults, which is what Marco Rubio is now doing.

For his part Cruz is hammering Trump in a different way:

TED CRUZ: “There have been multiple media reports about Donald's business dealings with the mob, with the mafia.  Maybe his taxes show those business dealings are a lot more extensive than has been reported.”

Now I don't believe anyone's tax returns are going to give insight into organized crime.  Mr. Cruz obviously casting aspersions on Mr. Trump.

But all of this negative stuff hasn't really altered the race so far.

Recent polls say Mr. Trump is leading in all the Super Tuesday states with the exception of Texas, Ted Cruz's home state.

So it looks like tomorrow Trump will prevail again.  It is how close Cruz and Rubio can keep the vote that is uncertain.

The south is friendly territory to Donald Trump.  When the votes shift to the northeast and Midwest, his challenge might grow but by that time he might have things sewn up.

If that happens, if Trump is the Republican nominee, you can expect a media assault on him that will be unprecedented.

Every day the press will hammer Trump, exposing every part of his life.

Trump is getting ready:

TRUMP: “So that when the New York Times writes a hit piece, which is a total disgrace, or when the Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because they're totally protected.”

Mr. Trump talking about what he would do as president, attempt to change the libel laws, but he can't do that now.

And believe me the press is just waiting.

A preview is this David Duke stuff, a complete non-story.  I've spoken with Trump hundreds of times.  I have never heard him run down anyone because of race.

He does not care about that.

The GOP madness is of course good news for Hillary Clinton, who has major problems of her own but who the American press will get behind.

Newspaper endorsements for president will run 20:1 Clinton.

So the question becomes, can Donald Trump bring in millions of new voters to overcome his deficit among the press, minorities and other groups that may not like him?

Trump thinks he can do it and has confounded his critics thus far.

And that's the memo.