Trump’s 2022 campaign got off to an excellent start in Texas’ primaries. His 33 endorsed candidates won or advanced in the runoff races. A person who knows Trump’s thinking says that Trump is more careful about supporting candidates in key primary races because of the poor performances of some of his chosen candidates and some negative advice they received.
Some performances raised concerns about Trump’s endorsements, and his influence over Republican primary voters. He couldn’t clear the field in places like Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama for his favorite candidate.
Trump’s selectivity has made his endorsement even more sought after elsewhere. Many of the candidates in Ohio’s Republican primary for a Senate seat are jockeying for Trump’s endorsement. They want to be seen as more pro-Trump than their rivals and seek facetime with him.
Trump’s power is evident in the number of visits that candidates and other political groups have made since Trump left the White House to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, Florida, and Trump National Golf Club, New Jersey. FEC records show that in 2021 campaigns for federal office or political committees spent at most $750,000 at these two properties.
According to a source, Jane Timken, former Ohio GOP state chairwoman, is scheduled to visit Mar-a-Lago next Wednesday. She is also seeking endorsements from her rivals Josh Mandel, JD Vanance, and Mike Gibbons. Trump is eager to make a decision, with early voting beginning next week.
The Ohio race is the first of many that month that will be a major test for Trump’s influence. He backed David Perdue, former senator, in his challenge against Brian Kemp, the incumbent governor of Georgia. Trump views him as Enemy Number One for certifying the results in the state. North Carolina’s Trump supported Representative Ted Budd who is running to fill an open Senate seat. However, Budd is currently in a close primary race against former Governor Pat McCrory.
He may still endorse candidates for the senate or gubernatorial primaries in Pennsylvania, Alabama and other states that month. He is now looking for new favorites in the Senate after his initial choices failed to work out.
pulled his endorsement last week from Alabama Representative Mo Brooks. had been trailing two other Republicans in the open Senate race. After losing a custody battle, Trump-endorsed candidate Sean Parnell left the race.
Trump is on the road rallying for his favorite candidates as primaries draw nearer. Trump went to Georgia last weekend in support of Perdue and other candidates. He’s expected to be in Michigan this week to support his selected candidates for secretary and attorney general. He will then travel to North Carolina the following week to support Budd.
Campaign operatives from different campaigns and super-PACs claim that Trump endorsements give candidates a significant boost in polling.
Taylor Budowich, Trump’s spokesperson, stated in a statement that “President Trump’s endorsement is the strongest force in politics and Save America has committed to ensuring all voters are engaged and educated before these important elections.” Trump’s PAC Save America had $110 Million cash at the end February.
According to those familiar with Trump’s decision-making process, Trump takes into account the candidate’s polling, fundraising, and keeps an eye on debates. He also considers whether candidates are capable of implementing his vision for the GOP.
However, securing the endorsement of former President Trump is only a first step. One former Trump campaign official said that while it will be difficult to get an endorsement, you must have the ability to raise money, have the ground game and fight for the causes he believes in.
Another Trumpworld employee stated, “It’s not about Trump’s endorsement losing power. It’s the issue campaign not capitalizing upon the endorsement.”
According to strategists, Trump underestimated Kemp’s power in Georgia. This is despite the fact that the GOP primary voters in Georgia may be more focused on today than the past.
According to a Georgia GOP consultant, Kemp said that Joe Biden has been reminding Republican voters why they don’t like his policies and hitting them in the pocketbook. It’s a win-win situation for us. “That is a win for us.
The consultant stated that Trump’s endorsement for Perdue had an impact on the margins but added, “But I don’t believe they were able to reveal anything new to change our conversation.”
Some GOP operatives believe that Trump, although still the most powerful Republican force, is losing some of his influence by not securing endorsements in the races.
One GOP operative who worked on multiple campaigns said, “Anyone who receives the endorsement should be happy.” He spoke anonymously because he wanted to share his candid thoughts. “Getting the endorsement of someone who the grassroots likes is a great day, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be the next governor, senator, or congressman.
If Trump doesn’t endorse a candidate, the operative said to CBS News that there is still a way for them to continue their campaign and not shutting it down.
“You have to say, “Let’s continue” because there is a blueprint. The operative cited McCrory’s standing in the race as an example of how you can stay competitive in a race where Trump backed another candidate. It’s not over.
Trump may be testing support for a candidate in some cases without an endorsement. The former president issued a statement last Wednesday asking Missouri voters if they had considered Representative Billy Long in the Missouri open Senate race. “Do they value what they have in him? A warrior and the first major political leader ever to say, “You better get on board the Trump Train. It’s leaving the station.” Trump stated that “This isn’t an endorsement, but I’m just asking.”
Former Trump campaign and administration officials have been lined up as candidates. Ohio’s Timken appointed Corey Lewandowksi as his former Trump campaign manager. He was fired from his position in a pro-Trump super PAC after he was accused of making unwanted sexual advances towards a donor and David Bossie, a former Trump campaign aide. Kellyanne Conway, a former White House senior counselor, is helping Timken and Long in their Senate primary. Jake Corman, a Pennsylvania state senator in the gubernatorial election.
Billionaire Peter Thiel donated large sums of money to support the Trump campaign in 2020. He is now supporting Vance in Ohio, and Blake Masters, in Arizona. Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio has been used by super PACs that support Masters and Vance. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is being assisted by a company founded by Justin Clark and Bill Stepien, former Trump campaign manager.
David McCormick is a Pennsylvanian who is married Trump’s former deputy National Security Advisor Dina Powell. He is currently campaigning with Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House press secretary, and Hope Hicks, former White House communications director. Fox News host Sean Hannity has advised Trump and is now supporting Mehmet Oz.
Trump has not weighed in on the highly competitive Senate race in Arizona, unlike Ohio and Pennsylvania. The elections in Missouri and Arizona are held until August. This gives Trump time to consider his options. The other races are only a few weeks away.
Trump loves to boast his endorsement record and will be looking for candidates who can win the primary election and the general election. In an interview with Real America’s Voice Tuesday night, Trump admitted that he might end up supporting candidates who lose their races.
“If I lose one, which you must, right?” Trump stated that they would say it was humiliating. They could say it sounds humiliating if I had 100 wins and only one loss.
