• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, March 15, 2016

With GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, you never know what’s next. He’s now associated with high-drama skirmishes during his rallies — shown on TV, apparently.

We don’t know where this story is going. However, like any good TV drama, you can’t help but watch.

Adding marketing political fuel, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said on TV recently that what is going on with Donald Trump is “political arson.”  Guessing many candidates would like to light a fire under certain voters.

What’s left for presidential candidates? More cameras in the audience of their rallies, attack ads — or something more sobering?

Since the first of the year, the “Donald J. Trump For President” effort has spent a grand total of $27,637 for national TV advertising, according to iSpot.tv.

During this time, nearly $4.9 million has been spent in national TV advertising for all presidential candidates. After the spending for “Hillary for America” -- some $1.9 million -- comes the Conservative Solutions PAC, totaling $1.38 million. Much of this GOP PAC spending, according to analysts, are attack ads on Trump.

Is this spending making a difference? Trump is still the dominant GOP candidate in polls -- even with Sen. Ted Cruz making delegate gains.  

Now there’s violence rising. Trump blamed supporters of Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign for this activity. Trump even called off an event in Chicago because of what could have been a dangerous situation.

Absence may make the heart grow fonder. All that means the next event might draw even bigger crowds -- if not more TV news coverage. More drama?

Even if you don’t believe any of this is planned, the result is clear. We all want to watch -- and perhaps get titillated.