A small gesture by Donald Trump in support of a rival at the ABC Republican debate is gaining the billionaire a lot of positive attention, according to Lead Stories' Trendolizer. Our system, which detects trending social net content and ranks presidential candidate's social media attention, detected this very viral story Monday.
Trump stood by Ben Carson during that awkward minute that he was stuck just off stage because Carson apparently did not hear his name being called to take his place at a podium St. Anselm's College in New Hampshire.
While the Trump kindness may not be obvious, a close viewing of the video shows how it happened. Chris Christie, who had been intensely focusing on New Hampshire, got loud cheers when moderator Martha Raddatz called him out first. Carson, who was to be second, apparently was unable to hear his name called from the "no-mans-land" position just off stage because of the loud cheering.
As Carson stood there, in sight of ABC's camera, Ted Cruz walked by and onto the stage. He remained there even as a stage manager waved him toward the stage from behind the curtain.
That's when Trump's name was called. But instead of walking to his center podium, Trump stood next to Carson, giving him an assuring tap on the arm and saying a few words as Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush were introduced and walked by.
Although just Christie, Cruz, Bush and Rubio were on stage, Raddatz announced "Ladies and gentlemen, the Republican candidates!" But moderator David Muir, realizing not all podiums were taken, called Carson again. "And Donald Trump," Raddatz added.
The chaos was not over since the moderators never called one GOP candidate's name. "What about Kasich?" asked Christie. "Can I introduce Kasich?" Finally, Muir called the Ohio governor on to the stage.
This Trendolizer chart shows the trajectory of this story.
