This piece is a year old, but I felt it was worth posting because I can’t help but wonder if RNC Chairman Reince Priebus thinks having Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee is a “net positive” for the Republican Party.
Still, Priebus said he thinks that having Trump in the 17-person race for the Republican presidential nomination has been a “net positive” in that it has brought interest to the process.
“I also think it’s an indicator that there’s a lot of folks out there that are just sick and tired of Washington,” Priebus said in an interview aired Sunday on “UpFront with Mike Gousha.” “I think Donald Trump has tapped into that. You look at the first debate we had, I think it was five or six times more viewers, in the beginning of August, than any debate in the history of either party.
“The key for us, of course, now is to tap into something that allows us to cross into a cultural barrier, which has been hard for our party.”
I’m betting Reince Priebus version 2016 recognizes now that Donald Trump’s presence atop the Republican Party’s presidential ticket is most definitely not a “net positive” for the Republican Party. After all, lots of smart folks think Donald Trump’s campaign is going to hasten the demise of the Republican Party as a serious national party.
I actually saw a Ron Johnson sign right next to a Hillary Clinton sign in the same yard yesterday. Way out in the reddest of red parts of Waukesha county. I realize that is anecdotal, and the smallest possible sample size, but if there are people who are still on board with Johnson, and yet cannot stomach Trump, that says something.
That said (this is also anecdotal) I ran into a friend over the weekend who is a public school teacher and no fan of Republicans but also says he cannot in good conscience support Clinton. It’s 3rd party or stay home for him.
My guess at this point is like 40 states for Hillary on a record low turnout.
Zach, thanks.
Dan, thanks for the helpful anecdotes.
As long as I’m confident Wisconsin will give its ten-electoral votes to Sec. Clinton, I’ll vote for Jill Stein, the Green party candidate for president.
I’ll have to be very confident, however, I’m afraid Trump is such an embarrassment that the polls may be underreporting his support. People are unwilling to tell pollsters the truth. Hope I’m wrong.
Wealth inequality is the issue for both bases. If Sec. Clinton can pivot to FDR-like positions, she can win over Trump supporters.