Trump's Immense Latitude to Shift

Republican candidates usually can't shift too far toward the center/sanity in the general election, for fear of alienating their supporters on the right. Donald Trump (who famously said he could "shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters") has no such constraint. That's something no one seems to have realized yet.

I sent the following to a Democratic muckety-muck I know (much higher up the food chain than this fellow):

Trump’s a greater threat in the general than is realized. Polling last summer showed similar unfavorability rating among Republican voters to what we’re currently seeing among Democrats. When he shifts for the generals, it will be a sharp turn. As he says, his base will follow him come what may, which gives him unusual headroom to play to the center left after the convention. He'll present a formidable challenge.

His reply:

I think you’re exactly right about Trump.