There are subtle characteristics that link the Donald Trump phenomenon with the United Kingdom's Brexit vote back in June, pollster Lord Ashcroft wrote on Time.com.

In fact, Trump himself has invoked Brexit over the course of his campaign, espousing the virtues of British citizens vote to leave the European Union and linking them to Americans' desire for change in the U.S.

Ashcroft says there are three reasons why that's a valid claim:

Change over policy. Voters' risk assessment vs. change they hope to see. The mainstream's blind spot to the opinions of reasonable people.

"There was an assumption in certain circles that anyone wishing to leave the EU must be stupid, ignorant, prejudiced or mad," Ashcroft wrote. "This only galvanized 'Leave' supporters, reinforcing their perception of an out-of-touch governing elite which looked down on people like them."

"The media Trump-shaming has not made any of his backers in our focus groups less determined to vote for him — only, perhaps, reluctant to admit their affiliation to friends and colleagues," Ashcroft wrote.