"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

It's a great quote. Like it or not, it probably earned him more votes than it lost him. It speaks directly to the liberal generation X, and only "lost" him support from those who wouldn't vote for him anyway. Thanks to the media, especially Fox News, for giving him that news cycle.

Not to mention prescient of the tired wedge issues that would be leveled against him.