Last US elections were strange because it seems both parties chose their worst candidates. Any Democrat other than Hilary would beat Trump hands down, and also any Republican would win with Clinton by even higher margin.
Of course this doesn't explain why this election was different from any other. I guess increasing polarization between left and right, makes it more of a problem in practice than usually.
Trump was not too right for the right. The establishment of the RNC was against him because he looked and had liberal ideas in many aspects.
Being politically incorrect may make him look "more extreme right" to the left but there's no evidence that he is (When compared, for example, with another important primary candidate like Ted Cruz).
Its really mindboggling, how he took over the party.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-donald-trump-is-...
Hillary Clinton was a Yale Law grad, successful lawyer, Walmart board member, First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State. She was 20 times the Most Admired Woman in America.
I'm familiar with equivocation. It really doesn't impress me.