Trump grip in GOP primaries masks vulnerabilities in the fall |
Trump grip in GOP primaries masks vulnerabilities in the fall
President Trump’s grip on Republican primaries appears tighter than ever as a string of GOP officeholders who came under his wrath fell to defeat in contests over the past month in Indiana, Kentucky and Louisiana.
Yet there’s a disconnect for the party, which is facing alarm bells about its standing as it heads into the midterms.
Trump’s approval ratings are down amid voter unhappiness with the war in Iran and the economy, and Trump’s power in a GOP primary may not be enough to prevent heavy Republican losses in the fall when more independents and Democrats are also casting votes for the House and Senate.
That’s especially a worry when Trump himself will not be on the ballot.
“It’s simple: He has a hold on the Republican base, which you see come out in primaries,” said Susan Del Percio, a veteran GOP strategist who does not support Trump. “Most primary voters are Donald Trump voters, but not all Donald Trump voters are primary voters. They only show up every four years for Donald Trump.”
Republican strategist Doug Heye put it this way when explaining why Republicans are worried: “The MAGA base is not the broader electorate.”
Trump remains the patriarch and largest influence on the GOP, and he’s pushing candidates toward his brand of politics even as polling shows that could make them vulnerable in the fall.
A New York Times/Siena poll released this week underscored the party’s conundrum.
While Trump-backed candidates are winning in primaries, as was the case on Tuesday night when they won or advanced to runoffs in six states, more than a third of Republican voters are looking for change within the party.
The same survey........