But I will admit that I do not know enough about the General to do more than speculate. (I suspect that most of the retired brass that Obama has forced into early retirements, will be all in for Trump anyway--probably with hair raising narratives to offer as the campaign unwinds.)
You’ve got it backwards. Democrats in “Democrat edge” states in the Northeast are even more to the left than usual, and nominal Republicans are closer to average Democrats in other parts of the country.
He’s not even a nominal Republican.