Posted on 07/31/2018 4:38:36 AM PDT by be-baw
President Trump's power over politics and the Republican Party is growing, with more GOP candidates adopting his tactics and relying on his seal of approval to win.
The big picture: For a party defined for a lifetime by cutting taxes and regulation, numerous GOP candidates are instead choosing to run ads on Trump topics like crime, gangs and illegal immigration.
Entire races — and states — are defined by Trump. In Georgia, Brian Kemp, a Trump clone who rants about fake media, immigrants and crime, crushed the establishment-backed Republican to win the GOP primary. Now, the Peach State will choose between Stacey Abrams, a liberal African American woman, and a conservative white man.
Trump-backed candidates have won nine of the last 10 contested races, including all primary races. National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar calls it a “golden touch,” magically turning long-shot hardliners into instant favorites.
The latest example of the Trump effect is in the GOP race for Florida governor:
Only last month, Adam Putnam — "Florida's agriculture commissioner and a genial conservative tabbed for political stardom since he won a state house seat at 22 — was ahead of Representative Ron DeSantis in fund-raising, local endorsements and opinion polls," the N.Y. Times' Jonathan Martin reports. "But then Mr. Trump bestowed his formal blessing on Mr. DeSantis for the Aug. 28 primary."
Now a Mason-Dixon poll has DeSantis 12 points ahead, a month before the primary.
A source close to the president told me: "Trump loves nothing more than raw, power politics. He knows he's got unprecedented juice with the Republican base, so he's flexing his muscle, and having a blast doing it."
How Trump does it:
His sway often flows from fear: Fear that he will tweet against you and turn you into a soon-t0-be ex-congressman, like he did with Mark Sanford in South Carolina. Or fear his base will retaliate, unprompted.
He has a powerful hold on his supporters' minds. A CBS News Battleground Tracker poll, conducted by YouGov and released Sunday, asked who you trust for accurate information. Among strong Trump supporters, the stunning result: Trump: 91% ... Friends & Family 63% ... Mainstream Media 11% . He has redefined the social issues that animate the Republican base from religious-rooted moral issues (abortion, gay marriage and "family values") to cultural issues rooted in class and race (immigration, crime and trade). He plucks candidates from relative obscurity and instantly turns them into household names in their districts or states — with a tweet, a rally or an endorsement. Because of his supporters' fervor, in a state like Alabama, he can quickly change opinions that were formed by voters over years, even decades . Quote du jour ... David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report tells me:
"If you're a Trump-skeptical Republican, you have 3 options if you speak your mind publicly: 1) Retire. 2) Be forced into retirement in your next primary. 3) Become a CNN/MSNBC commentator."
Be smart: Trump-style politics might very well outlive this presidency, making him the most consequential GOP president since Ronald Reagan.
A great article on Trump's hold on US politics......but Trump's influence on global politics should be mentioned,
particularly on the issue of migrants. Several countries are following Trump's lead and have proclaimed
policies designed to protect its own indigenous populations against the marauding migrant invasions.
You’re right Liz - Trump just might save Western Civilization... that should be included.
I’m doing my part - I switched from Putnam to DeSantis ‘cause I know Trump’s gonna need all the help we can give him... so he can save all of us in return.
Stand by...and, watch Axios losers. Trumpie dudes & gals will deliver Texas, Florida and Georgia “Bright RED”. Eat your hearts out, deadbeats, and tune in to the Trump MEGA Rallies in Tampa, Florida, this evening and in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania this coming Thursday.
Oh...by the way media stooges....”I have a simple question to ask of you...”Where Is Barack Hussein Obama, the chosen and worshiped Democrat Leader of the 2018 Mid-Term elections”? I keep looking for those Massive Obama rallies...None seen so far, Axios...it’s getting late, Media buffoons. The only sizable crowd Obama can address is a group organized independently. Otherwise he is like Hillary Clinton, no drawing power whatsoever. Again, I ask...Where is Obama, the supposed great political leader of the Democrat Party, hiding in his walled around mansion in Washington, DC?
“He has a powerful hold on his supporters’ minds.”
WRONG!
Donald Trump is the first person since Ronald Reagan to share our values, talk like us, assure us the best is yet to come and actually KEEP HIS PROMISES.
President Trump has no hold on our minds.
He does have a firm grip on our hearts and loyalty.
We have been waiting since Reagan for a President who would side with US (US citizens) and the rule of law.
Since the last amnesty we have only been allowed to vote for amnesty candidates.
The Bush League Republicans that had a stranglehold on the GOP squelched any effort by the citizens to stop the illegal alien inundation.
Hah....the sound of silence.
Nice move.
There’s a Trump Rally in Tampa tonight in support of Ron DeSantis!!!
Move people leaving the Marxist Liberal Party in the dust:
A gay, black army veteran became a Republican and simultaneously became the Democrats worst nightmare.
http://redstatewatcher.com/article.asp?id=132870
“There’s a Trump Rally in Tampa tonight in support of Ron DeSantis!!!”
I will likely watch it. I don’t miss many of his rallies. I’m glad FNC televises all of them.
I don’t watch on Fox. I prefer Right Side Broadcasting or YouTube live. Fox, apparently, has decided to stuff their shows with Liberals which gives me the urge to throw things at my flat screen. I see Chris Hahn’s Cheshire grin and I want to puke.
The Trump endorsed candidate in the GOP runoff election for Governor won 157 out of 159 counties in Georgia against the winner of the general election.
I had to look up Chris Hahn to know who you were talking about. He and most liberals on FNC are just background noise to me. There are only a handful that I find absolutely repulsive and have to get out of my house: Marie Harf, Shep Smith that dude who does the My Pillow commerciasl. Never have I seen a face so deserving of receiving a thrown pie.
Fear is driving GOP candidate to embrace Trump??
Yeah, sure. Try popularity - 88-92% of the base backs him and he’s a popular President.
You run against him to your own peril. People like the man and his message.
Did I mention Trump is holding another rally tonight in Florida? The man has star power.
Expect another sold-out, overflow crowd. Its Trump’s party now.
Ding, ding, ding - we have a thread winnah!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.