Donald Trump's Momentum Not Slowed by Controversies, Says Hugh Hewitt

The momentum of Donald Trump's presidential campaign has not been slowed by recent controversies stemming from comments the real estate mogul made about Sen. John McCain and Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, according to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Hewitt, who joins the “This Week” roundtable Sunday, told ABC News via email that Trump has “hit a chord with a large swath of the GOP as well as Independents and many Democrats.”

The conversation below has been lightly edited for clarity.

1. Why do you think Donald Trump is resonating with Republicans? Do you think his comments on John McCain and Megyn Kelly will impact his long-term standing with GOP voters?

Hewitt: Donald Trump has hit a chord with a large swath of the GOP as well as Independents and many Democrats. That chord is a promise of a return to American greatness and recognition of the anger at establishment Washington. As the large crowd in Michigan showed this week, his momentum has not been slowed by any of the controversies. As I discussed with him two weeks ago ... I do think that he would bring in more party loyalists with a pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee if it isn't him.

2. How likely do you think it is that Trump wins the GOP nomination for president? And could be beat Hillary Clinton if they faced off for the presidency in the general election?

Hewitt: I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet so I have no idea of who will be the GOP nominee, nor do I have a favorite in the race nor do I dislike any of those running, but it is clear that Hillary Clinton is beatable by any GOP nominee because of her recklessness with national security, both in office during her catastrophic tenure as secretary of state and in her handling of highly sensitive, classified information during and after her time at State. I think it is increasingly likely that she will not be the nominee though even two months ago I though her nomination was inevitable. 18 U.S.C. Section 1924 is in play here, and her conduct is far worse than that of General Petraeus, which led to his prosecution, plea, probation and fine.

3. What impact will the ongoing questions relating to Clinton’s use of a private email account during her time at the State Department have on her candidacy?

Hewitt: As noted above, this is a very, very serious matter and it appears to me to be criminal conduct.

4. Beyond those people currently running for president, who else are you watching as possible candidates for vice president on the GOP side?

Hewitt: There are a great number of tremendously talented people in the GOP, like Governors Haley of South Carolina and Martinez of New Mexico and Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. I also think two of the young warriors of the Senate -- combat veterans Tom Cotton and Joni Ernst -- will be on a lot of VP lists. Of course everyone in the race is also a potential VP.

5. You’ll be asking questions at the GOP debate in September. What can you say about the questions you plan to ask? Will you have a particular area of focus? Any advice to the candidates?

Hewitt: I think my job is to ask questions GOP primary voters want answered, such as electability, positions on national security and defense spending, how the candidates will work to stop the rapid spread of radical Islamist jihadism, and if time permits Common Core. All of the candidates are against the disaster that is the Iran deal, but how would they unravel it if it passes? And should the Senate's filibuster rules allow Senate Democrats to hold defense appropriations hostage as they are now doing after Harry Reid broke the filibuster rules to jam through President Obama's judicial nominees last year? Putting a conservative Republican journalist among the questioners guarantees that questions like these -- all of importance to GOP primary voters get asked -- instead of "gotcha" questions.