As President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell feud, the Trump vs. Establishment split in the Republican party is unfolding into the 2018 primaries.
The feud between Trump and McConnell started last Monday when the Majority Leader criticized the President for his unrealistic expectations of the pace that Congress could pass legislation. Trump attacked McConnell via Twitter, and would not answer whether he would ask the Majority Leader to step down. This feud is the latest deepening of the split within the Republican Party.
This feud is turning out to be a headache not just for McConnell, but for many members of the Republican establishment. An ad attacking current Representative and Senate candidate Luke Messer of Indiana by a pro-Trump candidate is a preview to what many establishment Republicans may face in the primaries.
The ad released by Todd Rokita, candidate for Indiana Senate, argues Messer is against President Trump and groups him with Democrats and the media. The ad quotes Messer’s call for a “white knight” candidate to replace Trump at the convention, then shows quotes from Messer endorsers and fundraisers attacking Trump. Finally, Messer is shown on CNN saying that the President is yet to show that he understands how to be presidential.
The 1-minute spot ends with, “If you like Donald Trump… You won’t like Luke Messer. He’s with the elite. Not us.”
Donald Trump ran a successful presidential campaign tapping into voters’ anti-elitism sentiment, demonizing Democrats and the media. Pro-Trump Republicans are trying to associate establishment Republicans critical of the president with the elites, a strategy to win over Trump supporters.
In recent months, Congressional Republicans have become less shy about attacking President Trump. However, this makes Republicans vulnerable to opposition from Trump loyalists.
Other Republicans with unstable relationships with the President, like Senators Jeff Flake and Dean Heller, already have Pro-Trump primary opponents. As the 2018 primaries near, more establishment incumbents will surely be challenged by Pro-Trump Republicans.
The feud between Trump and McConnell started last Monday when the Majority Leader criticized the President for his unrealistic expectations of the pace that Congress could pass legislation. Trump attacked McConnell via Twitter, and would not answer whether he would ask the Majority Leader to step down. This feud is the latest deepening of the split within the Republican Party.
This feud is turning out to be a headache not just for McConnell, but for many members of the Republican establishment. An ad attacking current Representative and Senate candidate Luke Messer of Indiana by a pro-Trump candidate is a preview to what many establishment Republicans may face in the primaries.
The ad released by Todd Rokita, candidate for Indiana Senate, argues Messer is against President Trump and groups him with Democrats and the media. The ad quotes Messer’s call for a “white knight” candidate to replace Trump at the convention, then shows quotes from Messer endorsers and fundraisers attacking Trump. Finally, Messer is shown on CNN saying that the President is yet to show that he understands how to be presidential.
The 1-minute spot ends with, “If you like Donald Trump… You won’t like Luke Messer. He’s with the elite. Not us.”
Donald Trump ran a successful presidential campaign tapping into voters’ anti-elitism sentiment, demonizing Democrats and the media. Pro-Trump Republicans are trying to associate establishment Republicans critical of the president with the elites, a strategy to win over Trump supporters.
In recent months, Congressional Republicans have become less shy about attacking President Trump. However, this makes Republicans vulnerable to opposition from Trump loyalists.
Other Republicans with unstable relationships with the President, like Senators Jeff Flake and Dean Heller, already have Pro-Trump primary opponents. As the 2018 primaries near, more establishment incumbents will surely be challenged by Pro-Trump Republicans.