The Oscar for Best Acting in a Candidate Role ....

Campaigning to be president is a performing art, like acting or stand-up comedy. Those who've been good at it in recent years include, famously, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. As the latter demonstrates, being a talented candidate doesn't always translate to being a good president, they are different skill sets.

In this year's election cycle, the most obviously skilled campaigner is Donald Trump. His years in reality TV were excellent training. Trump plays the media like a Stradivarius, perhaps as well as FDR did. 

The Trump candidacy gives the lie to the notion that the MSM only carries water for liberals who are their clear preference. Trump proves that if you are "good copy," or as The Atlantic's Molly Ball writes, "fun," they'll even cover a Republican.

All other things being equal, talented "performers" win elections. Maybe the GOP should go with the guy with the skills needed to win media coverage and cross-over votes, even if he isn't a down-the-line conservative. Does anyone question we'd rather spend four years listening to Trump bloviate on the evening news than Hillary?