Free Republic
Browse · Search
GOP Club
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

“Disarray”: Team Trump laying off staffers in key swing states?
Hot Air ^ | April 5, 2016 | Allahpundit

Posted on 04/05/2016 8:55:22 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

We were destined to see a major “Trump in disarray!” piece from political media on a day when he’s looking at a loss in Wisconsin, just like we’re destined to see “Trump comeback!” pieces two weeks from now when he wipes the floor with Cruz in New York. Even so, the layoffs reported here are odd. What possible reason could a billionaire candidate have to slash staff at a moment when he’s desperate for people to help him organize his battle for delegates with Cruz? Even if he had the nomination locked up, why would he want to shed staffers in states like Ohio and Florida for which he’ll have to fight tooth and nail in November? One of the biggest worries among political pros in having Trump as nominee is that Democrats will run rings around him organizationally, given his strategy of trying to beat Cruz’s superior GOTV operations through sheer media muscle. Now here he is stripping his already mediocre organization down further. Why the hell would he do that?

I’ve said this before but it can’t be said enough: As well as he’s done in the primaries thus far, imagine how well Trump could be doing if he’d spent big money on organization and ads. It’s not overstating it to say that Ted Cruz still has a chance at the nomination only because Trump’s inattentiveness to campaign fundamentals (and frugality?) has permitted it.

At the moment, though, Trump’s team appears to be something of a patchwork group without much experience—partly because so many staffers are being fired.

Only four of 11 Iowa staffers continued on after Trump lost that state’s caucuses in February. More recently, most of Trump’s South Carolina, Florida and Ohio teams have not had their contracts renewed, according to a person familiar with the campaign, who said the lack of organization in Florida was putting Trump at a disadvantage in the delegate selection process…

Multiple staffers and advisors left the campaign last month in protest of the way its management was treating its staff, a source familiar with the departures told POLITICO.

“I believe that Donald Trump has the backbone to fix this country, but if changes are not made soon at the top I am fairly convinced that he will lose,” said one of the people who left the campaign. The person said morale among the campaign staff is sinking, attributing that to the layoffs, as well as Lewandowski’s profanity-laced outburst on campaign calls.

“I don’t think Mr. Trump knows what’s happening on his campaign,” the person said, adding “everyone is in astonishment of what’s going on. It’s almost like they’re sabotaging themselves.”

The head of the data team was reportedly laid off a month ago and was replaced by his deputy, who hadn’t spent much time on political strategy before joining Team Trump. If you believe Politico, some of the campaign’s files are now inaccessible since the lead data guy left. Corey Lewandowski naturally denies that there’s any disarray and that anyone’s ever objected to him cursing, although the fact that his role in the campaign is reportedly shrinking is further circumstantial evidence that strange things are afoot. Ah well. At least Trump’s “private mercenary force” of security people is still on its game.

Question for campaign pros: Assuming that Politico’s theory of “disarray” is hyperbole, what’s the logical explanation for laying off staffers during crunch time of a long primary with a general election on the horizon? Is the campaign running low on cash with Trump unwilling to pony up what he needs to make the delegate fight with Cruz more competitive? If so, isn’t that another way of saying that he doesn’t want to be president that badly? I’m skeptical of that theory, but more people seem to be coming around to it every week: “There is a lifelessness to the Trump campaign lately, a kind of refusal to stand up and do the hard work of reuniting a party that he has shattered or building an organization that can mount an effective national campaign.” He’s barely begun building a fundraising network, per New York magazine, which he’ll surely need to keep pace with Democrats, even though he’s been the national frontrunner for nearly a year and could find himself at the start of the general election campaign as soon as … tomorrow, really, if Wisconsin goes his way tonight. Is the explanation just that Trump’s been winging it since the beginning and intends to keep doing so for the duration of the campaign? That’s a fine argument for delegate to choose him over Cruz on the floor in Cleveland.

Semi-relatedly, here’s a snapshot of Reuters’s national tracking poll among likely Republican voters since January 1st. The orange line is Trump, the red line is Cruz. What’s different lately?

I doubt you’ll see any of that Cruzmentum show up in New York two weeks from now, but if you’re searching for evidence that his (likely) win in Wisconsin tonight is a sign of a broader national shift, there you have it.


TOPICS: Campaign News; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: 1stcanadiansenator; cruz; cruzbundlerposting; globalistcruz; lyinted; noteligiblecruz; openboarderscruz; stopthesteal; tdsovertime; tedcruz; trump; trumpcampaign
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last
To: 2ndDivisionVet

If Trump is shedding staffers in key States its more than likely they aren’t doing too good a job or the new delegate czar Trump just hired has other people in mind. They are not going to sit around and let lil Teddy keep stealing delegates.


21 posted on 04/05/2016 10:11:50 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: unlearner

Indeed. If Hillary is elected, we will look back at the last eight years with nostalgia.


22 posted on 04/05/2016 10:13:22 PM PDT by RobbyS (```JMJ)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

why is “campaign fundamentals” spending “big money” on ads?

when Trump gains the nomination won’t he have the resources of the RNC behind him ?


23 posted on 04/05/2016 10:14:49 PM PDT by blueplum (March 11, 2016 - the day the First Amendment died?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: amihow
Donald Trump is a corporatist and a globalist. He evidently sees nothing wrong with diluting the Constitution

There I fixed it.

24 posted on 04/05/2016 10:19:03 PM PDT by Slyfox (Donald Trump's First Principle is the Art of the Deal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

It sounds like even Newt is half giving up on Trump.

Newt had been very friendly although began saying the Trump really needed to cool down the rhetoric. The guy apparently can not take good advise.

Many on his staff must be having the same issues.

I am 100% for Trump not listening to any advisors, He knows best! For that sake of America, keep it up, Please.


25 posted on 04/05/2016 10:25:31 PM PDT by X-spurt (William of Ockham endorses Ted Cruz. 'the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Here I was thinking along similar lines. Can’t make a silk purse..........


26 posted on 04/05/2016 10:27:48 PM PDT by X-spurt (William of Ockham endorses Ted Cruz. 'the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Yes, civility is what we’re looking for.

Ha. Pot meets kettle.


27 posted on 04/05/2016 10:35:09 PM PDT by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Oliver Boliver Butt

No. He caters to young libs also.


28 posted on 04/05/2016 10:51:44 PM PDT by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Slyfox

Donald is not owned by the corps. Cruz is.


29 posted on 04/05/2016 10:52:48 PM PDT by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

To: gunsequalfreedom

Allahpundit is like Red State

Hates Trump


31 posted on 04/05/2016 10:58:59 PM PDT by wardaddy (is Cruz last name a coincidence or a blessing or is he the anti Christ?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy

I guess so.


32 posted on 04/05/2016 11:09:08 PM PDT by gunsequalfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Slyfox

A very wise person told me that those who call others idiots lack reasons to be able to argue.


33 posted on 04/05/2016 11:09:23 PM PDT by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

Comment #34 Removed by Moderator

To: Mr Apple

Well if the story has just begun, get with it and get some of the MSM onto reporting and investigating it. It is almost too late as it is.


35 posted on 04/06/2016 12:13:52 AM PDT by native texan (Texans should be independent thinkers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

When Trump was feuding with Megyn, Cruz was establishing dormitories in Iowa for supporters to come from all over the country and work on GOTV efforts.


36 posted on 04/06/2016 12:19:47 AM PDT by JPX2011
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JPX2011

Working.


37 posted on 04/06/2016 12:23:30 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: RitaOK

Apparently, TRUMP supporters have a thick skull.

Even before reading this report on Trump’s campaign, there was just some change in the air around Trump, like he was growing tired of wasting his time.

There are reports from his campaign people that the rigors of the campaign are having a harsh toll on Trump. His being worn out is completely understandable, even tough as boots people our age tire out sooner. Just being around that many people all the time would make anyone crazy.


38 posted on 04/06/2016 5:49:43 AM PDT by X-spurt (William of Ockham endorses Ted Cruz. 'the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: X-spurt; manc

ROTFLOLO!!

OMGosh! Another story from the concern troll media, that Trump is pooped. HA!HA!HA! Press time for the Establishment!

LOL!

Next?


39 posted on 04/06/2016 7:55:55 AM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: X-spurt

yep must have reached that ceiling again.

sarc


40 posted on 04/06/2016 9:01:06 AM PDT by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
GOP Club
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson