Senate Republicans really want Donald Trump out campaigning for their candidates this fall. Never mind his widespread unpopularity and his lack of message discipline, they believe he’s going to help them preserve their 51-49 Senate majority.
“If you look at a race in a state like Missouri or North Dakota — or any of these states — he’ll be very involved,” said Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado, chairman of the GOP’s campaign arm, who speaks with Trump about political strategy regularly. “He’ll be actively campaigning for a Senate majority. Absolutely.” [...]
In fact, despite his unpopularity on the national level, Republicans insist there isn’t a state on the Senate map where they are nervous about deploying Trump. Republicans reason that opposition to Trump is already baked into the Democratic electorate. They figure Democrats will be motivated to vote whether Trump shows up or not, so they might as well use him to fire up their base, too.
Republicans have “got to have some intensity in our base,” as Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) put it.
Fair point—Trump is more likely to bring out the Republican base than your average Republican Senate candidate. On the other hand, two words: Roy Moore. Two more: Doug Jones. Donald Trump clung to Moore and yet a Democrat won in Alabama. That fact has to have Republicans a lot more nervous than they’re letting on here.
But there’s no denying that this year’s Senate map is terrible for Democrats and that Donald Trump will help Republicans raise money and will fire up the most deplorable segment of the Republican base. The fight is on.
We need to fight hard for the Senate. Can you chip in $3 to the nominee funds in Nevada and Arizona?