A new New Hampshire poll shows a wide open race—and a Trump surge to 8 percent in the poll, just a few points behind the “leaders” Walker and Paul (at 12 percent) and ahead of Cruz and Christie.

Trump has announced he will be making a major announcement June 16, and then he will head for New Hampshire, where has already hired campaign staff and unveiled a 17-member leadership council.

He’s going for blunt and pugnacious, promising “total victory” over ISIS. His message seems to be: “I’m a big strong Alpha guy, and I will fight for your interests. The rest are losers.”

I can’t seem to count Trump out.  Disillusionment and disenchantment with the political process and a downsizing economy might make his implausible campaign catch fire.

Maggie Gallagher is a senior fellow at American Principles in Action.