'Wilder and wilder': Analyst says one issue explains Trump's 'unassailable grip' on GOP

Why is former President Donald Trump in a neck-and-neck campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris despite a slate of scandals that include a criminal conviction, an ally's reported pro-slavery porn site commentary and an attack on the U.S. Capitol critics commonlycall a coup?

To quote another former president's campaign guru, "It's the economy, stupid."

That's the takeaway from CNN analyst Stephen Collinson Monday morning from recent polls showing Trump maintaining steady numbers in key swing states even as his rhetoric — specifically when aimed at Haitian immigrants — becomes more outlandish.

"Trump is getting wilder and wilder, but the White House race remains a toss-up," Collinson wrote. "[An] NBC poll offers an explanation for this contradictory dynamic."

Collinson offers a thorough analysis of multiple polls that show swing state voters trust Trump more when it comes to protecting their economic interests.

The NBC poll found inflation and the cost of living to be the top concern of this election with 28 percent of voters raising such economic concerns.

ALSO READ: Inside Trump and Johnson's shocking new bid to suppress women's votes

And recent New York Times/Siena polls show Trump maintaining double-digit leads among likely voters in Georgia, North Carolina and Arizona when it comes to economic policy, according to the CNN analyst.

"The former president is more broadly seen as having policies that have 'helped people like you' than Harris," Collinson wrote. "Anxiety over the economy may be overpowering other concerns about Trump."

While Collinson argued Trump has exhibited "extraordinary resilience" in his ability to hold a "an unassailable grip on the GOP’s base," the analyst noted Harris has a big reveal coming that could help claim voters put off by the former president's extremism.

Harris told reporters Sunday she will outline her economic vision in a speech this week addressing swing state voters' concerns about a relatively unknown candidate who only entered the race a few months ago, the analyst reported.

"The contest remains competitive largely because of Trump’s tendency to alienate available voters, despite his stunning loyalty among supporters," Collinson concluded.

"Voters’ concerns over the economy suggest that either candidate could carve out an edge in the final weeks."