Is Donald Trump the 'Groundhog Day' candidate?

Not many expected Donald Trump, the real estate mogul, to throw his hat in the ring and run for president. After all, he had been promising -- or threatening, depending on your perspective -- to do so for some time. So when he made the announcement that he was, indeed, planning to "Make America Great Again," many said he wouldn't follow through with filing his paperwork. When he did, they said he'd be out of the race quicker than he could tell a celebrity apprentice, "You're fired!" Trump has not only remained in the race, but he has dominated the race. He has been the longstanding Republican frontrunner -- lapping his rivals, garnering all the media attention and dictating the conversation with one statement or proposal after another. And no matter how outrageous some deem his words or deeds, nothing seems to hurt him. When women accuse him of making sexist comments, his poll numbers skyrocket. When he stands before a Christian audience at Liberty University and incorrectly cites "TWO Corinthians," evangelicals endorse him and when he skips the final debate before the Iowa caucuses and fundraises for veterans instead, two of his GOP rivals actually join him. Everything the billionaire businessman touches turns to gold.

Even the establishment, who would prefer to foist Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and the now-bowed-out Lindsey Graham upon us, have been forced to admit Trump looks poised to win the presidential nomination. Many of us sitting back and watching can't quite figure out if the non-politician is just that masterful or if he just haphazardly falls into one win after another.

Two camps have emerged in this election cycle.

One faction asserts that we are living 2008 all over again -- just like Bill Murray's character, Phil, in the movie "Groundhog Day" experienced Feb. 2 repeatedly -- with the nation foolishly choosing to do for Donald Trump what many did for then-candidate Barack Obama. In 2008, when the smooth-talking Chicago community organizer hit the national scene, we knew little about him. The one-term U.S. senator had little political experience. His penchant for missing votes and voting "present" blinded us to where he stood on certain issues. His college records were top secret. His association with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers was largely ignored. And his membership at Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial church was given a pass. Not many seemed too interested in digging too deeply or asking too many questions. Stiff criticism was labeled racist in nature, and thus, it was a conversation-stopper. And the media gave him cover; it was the least they could do for the newcomer they were determined to help become the first black president.

Fast forward to the 2016 race and Donald Trump and the second faction. Many glommed onto him because, they said, he is the antithesis of politics-as-usual. They are tired of politicians saying one thing to get elected and doing something else -- or doing nothing. They are fed up with political correctness and welcome Trump's penchant for saying "what needs to be said." They are longing for an economic boost, and who better than a successful businessman to "bring back our jobs from China"? They believe that he is something fresh and new, the future of politics, rather than the past. They believe we have never seen anyone quite like Trump in the political arena -- someone who cannot be bought, is willing to call our leaders "stupid and incompetent" and will finally build that border wall without making taxpayers pay for it -- because Mexico will. They like what they call this new face of politics.

They are not overly concerned about Trump's track record, nor are they discouraged by the accusation that he is not at all a conservative. They don't mind that he has changed positions countless times on countless things -- universal health care, abortion, gun control and taxes, to name a few. They're more interested in the newness and the future potential -- and sticking it to the establishment. "He's fresh. He's charismatic. He's the change for which we have been waiting." Sound familiar?

Those who remember Obama's rise to power would say so. "This isn't new," they warn. "This is 2008 all over again. This is the Obama phenomenon."

In "Groundhog Day," Phil wakes up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, every day to the same-old-same-old -- until he finally learns his lesson, until he changes. Only then do viewers get the sense that things will be different -- and better. The never-ending yesterday is replaced with a fresh today -- and tomorrow.

Whether Trump is a 2016 version of the 2008 Obama -- the same-old-same-old conservatives find troubling -- or if he truly represents a fresh tomorrow for which they are hoping remains to be seen. But as we continue along this process toward a Republican nominee, it looks more and more certain we may very well find out.

Adrienne Ross is an editor, writer, public speaker, former teacher and coach, Southeast Missourian editorial board member and owner of Adrienne Ross Communications.