Trump put a floodlight on the path forward for the GOP: solidify the hold on the Rust Belt and deport the illegal aliens and/or prevent them from voting in the Sun Belt. I’m less worried about 2018, because Democrats have a lot more marginal voters who can’t be bothered more than once every four years, but by 2020, the Rust Belt economy needs to be moving, and the illegal aliens need to be gone, if the GOP is to remain in power.
>> and/or prevent them from voting in the Sun Belt.
This is they key. A few more high-profile trials/long prison sentences/deportations for voter fraud and me might just be able to keep the 5 million illegals away from the polls in 2018.
Look at the Whitest states in the rust belt and NE:
ME, NH, PA, OH, MI, WI, IA Trump won 4 1/4 out of the six.
I based my E.C. prediction (286 for Trump) on which states were the Whitest. I missed PA (20)