“It’s certainly encouraging that Trump appears to be polling well in some key swing states,” said Mark McKinnon, a Republican adviser and global vice president of Hill & Knowlton Strategies. “But let’s see what it looks like after the conventions.”

The tough-talking businessman claims to have attracted to the political process millions of new voters feeling unrepresented by their elected leaders and falling behind economically. His most fervent supporters are predominantly white males in mainly rural communities.

He also benefits from a Republican base energized to take on Clinton and the fact that the public dislikes them both about about the same, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News survey of registered voters.





[



How Much of a Weight Is Trump on Portman?

]

Indeed, Trump has garnered a record-breaking 11.5 million votes in primary balloting so far — about 45 percent of the total on the Republican side, according to Real Clear Politics. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in the end, but I think he’ll be helpful because he’s bringing new people to the party,” said Republican Sen. Rob Portman who’s in a tight re-election fight in Ohio.

The stakes are particularly high for Trump in Ohio, if history is any indicator. No Republican has lost Ohio and won the White House.

But it’s unclear how many actual new voters he’s attracted and what impact, if any, that total is having on polling and down-ballot races.

Also, Trump has a frosty relationship with establishment political figures, who continue to keep him at arm’s length and still worry about their majorities in Congress, especially the Senate. His endorsement tally from Capitol Hill and from state officials remains light.