In the crowded GOP field for presidential candidate, Donald Trump has been making enormous headway with his wayward style of campaigning, to the extent that his Republican peers are worried about the party's image. The 161-year-old GOP might "be destroyed" by him if he is left unchecked, warned former Texas governor and fellow candidate Rick Perry.

Trump's words during the presidential run have been labeled as "a toxic mix of demagoguery, mean-spiritedness and nonsense," and drew the ire of the bulk of the US elite, both Republicans and Democrats. He demonized Mexican Americans for "bringing drugs and crimes" and belittled Senator John McCain's war record.

However, it is such a carnival act that has made this bombastic real estate mogul top the opinion polls. A recent poll from ABC News and The Washington Post shows that Trump leads the 16-candidate field with 24 percent support among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents that are registered to vote, a six-fold increase since he joined the campaign in May.

The popularity of Trump, however, reflects the flaws in US election culture. He is ahead in the polls because the Republican field is so big that support is split for relatively moderate candidates and the public only recognizes Trump's name as a billionaire.

"I'm really rich," he boasted during a campaign speech in June. Obviously, he never intended to hide the fact that money can bring him things he wants. According to CNN reports, he does not need to raise funds from any contributors whom he has to be responsible for, thus political rules do not apply to him and he can bear the cost of any "language bombs."

It seems that Trump is simply chasing after his own publicity. He barely comes up with serious solutions to American's long-standing social problems, but leaves an impression on the public that he is an outspoken and vocal politician. As he makes the campaign field his own sideshow, his high support rate suggests that the public do not treat presidential elections seriously either.

Trump's wrath also tends to be directed toward China, despite his country's relationship with China being the most sophisticated and important bilateral relationship in the 21st century. Like many presidential candidates before, he adopts a "China-bashing" rhetoric by accusing China of stealing jobs and making himself a tough negotiator who would beat Beijing "all the time." Apparently, Trump is trampling US interests underfoot.

Charles de Gaulle once said, "Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians." But if politicians don't take it seriously, who will? The way Trump campaigns will galvanize the public, but it needs to become serious when the public begins to think about national interests.