Yeah, but 'scandals' didn't touch Trump because he'd already said the media was out to get him. So every time they went for him, it vindicated and strengthened him in his supporters' eyes. Equally, being prepared to say shocking and offensive things was very much part of his appeal, so that inoculated him against the danger of gaffes. It was a very clever bit of stupidity.
I'm not sure Bernie Sanders would've been able to survive those sorts of bumps in the road as easily.
I take your point, but I just think all the Trump campaign would've had to do was constantly refer to 'the socialist Bernie Sanders' and they'd have won.
Anyway, this is all speculation. I think we can agree that the US election last year was an unprecedented shítshow in terms of the quality of candidates - and all the more entertaining for it.