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"Has Trump gone too far?"

It's a question that is now being asked almost daily as the billionaire makes gaffe after gaffe - his most recent claiming that President Obama 'founded' ISIS.

The controversial billionaire has refused to temper his rhetoric despite previously claiming that he would pivot to a more 'Presidential' style of delivery.

It's now leading many to wonder whether Trump has simply given up and is planning to go down in style.

(Image: REUTERS)

Already Trump appears to be preparing for a loss. He claimed last week that the election would be 'rigged' against him, before saying that he would be having a 'long holiday' in November.

After a dreadful week last week which was marred by the ongoing row with the family of a Muslim soldier who was killed in Iraq, Trump attempted to relaunch with a teleprompter assisted, measured speech on the economy on Monday.

But the speech was a laughing stock after Republican candidate Trump said 'titties' instead of cities. He compounded his problems on Tuesday by appearing to suggest activists could kill rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump said to a rally yesterday that 'ISIS are honouring President Obama. He is the founder of ISIS. And the co-founder, I think is crooked Hillary Clinton'.

The Apprentice frontman, who is new to politics, hasn't suffered massive problems from previous insults, including saying that Mexico was sending rapists over the border.

It's a tightrope walk, but proponents of his style say that his no-nonsense, no-filter, not politically correct way of speaking endears him to a power base of the disillusioned and poorly educated, often white men.

(Image: Getty)

Even critical analysts think that this off-the-cuff style solves as many issues on the campaign for Trump as they create.

His latest comments, however, seem to marry all of his problems with presentation during this heated election campaign.

Firstly, straight ignorance. Isis, despite having greatly increased in prominence, is not a new phenomenon, having been founded at the turn of the century and became a prominent force a full four years before Obama was elected.

Trump's wild speculation betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of foreign affairs.

(Image: AFP)

Secondly, his inability to not spit insults at rivals, supporters, journalists, even babies continues to be a problem.

A prominent news reporter has published an essay on the abuse and death threats she suffered after he singled her out for criticism.

And thirdly, losing his key messages among the noise. Hillary Clinton remains a deeply flawed and highly unpopular candidate, with her e-mail scandal still a millstone around her neck.

Examination of her Clinton Foundation dealings and a far from perfect record as Secretary of State are not what one hears at Trump rallies.

What is heard is Trump implying that Clinton is too old to carry out the duties of President (she's two years younger than him).

Yesterday he got the day wrong twice while implying Clinton wasn't smart enough to take the White House. He's claimed that journalists at the New York Times "Don't write good".

It'd be funny if it wasn't so dangerous.

Trump's inability to get through even a single day without a self-inflicted wound just shows that a more traditional candidate would not be suffering the poll reversal he has seen.

That is not to write him off. For all his faults Trump has shown himself to be a man of impeccable instinct, at least where his own base is concerned.

But there simply aren't enough white men to get him elected.

The Republican Party in America needs an identity crisis. The party's stance on social issues like abortion and gay marriage is decades behind the rest of the country.

But that's not the identity crisis Trump has given them. His America is a land of traitors, with Republicans as guilty as Democrats in not 'putting America first'.

He has alienated Hispanics, who are one of the fastest growing demographic constituencies in any country in the world.

Perhaps his views are sincere. Maybe he does believe what he says. His strategy got him through the primaries, maybe he can insult his way to the Presidency.

However, to many observers he looks like a man ready to move on to something else.

Those who know him well say that in business, as in personal dealings, he has a short attention span, becoming easily distracted and bored of topics that aren't how great he is.

Trump is a man of wild contradictions. Believe him, and he'll have you convinced he's tough and yet compassionate. Rich as hell but humble and kind.

It would be richly appropriate for him to look like he'll say and do anything to get into power, but deep down simply knowing he simply couldn't do it.

He continues to insult, but never to improve his standing. With final primary rival Ted Cruz already stunned and against the ropes Trump decided to go for a low-blow.

He phoned a talk show to imply that Cruz's father was involved in the murder of John F Kennedy.

He knows his words will be used to effectively damage him. Far more of his arguments end with him in disgrace than a bump in the polls.

He knows that he can't win like this.

But it's starting to look like he just doesn't want to.