The two selection processes are very different. Primaries are about selecting candidates that the Party members can support. Who has the most invested the selection of the Republican candidate, Party activists and Partisans. The same is true for Democrat candidates for their Parties nomination. Those who tend to be activists, tend to hold strong opinions and are are the base supporters for each of the Parties. These bases tend to be far more ideological than the more casual members of their party and independents. In the GE, the candidates have to appeal to the more moderate party members and independents as well as the hard core base.The speeches, slogans, issues that can win a Parties nomination in the Primaries, are often too ideological, too strident, and turn off the moderate and independent voters in the GE.
In the general, people start taking you more seriously, so the antics that worked for Trump in the primaries, won't necessarily work for Trump in the general, because people don't take someone like Trump being president as seriously as they do in the general.
In a primary you have to compete against others who basically share your ideals and in the general you have to compete against someone against your ideals. They require different strategies.
I bet folks didn't think he would really win and voted to be jerks. Because the other candidates weren't that good anyway. But great point. Folks will look at all of his tactics and really think about it. - - - Updated - - - Interesting.
it's why 'are' general elections different than the primaries. you might try asking your 6th grade social studies teacher. and after that, stop by the English teacher for some badly needed grammar lessons. seriously though, it's axiomatic that Presidential candidates veer left or right during the primaries to appeal to their bases, then sharply turn toward the middle during the general, in order to cater to the undecided moderates.
