I don’t need to write a ton here. I just want to direct you to this piece in the Wall Street Journal. Blake Masters is losing Arizona, and it should be winnable.
But the reality is that Peter Thiel and Donald Trump went to bat for Masters in a crowded primary, poured millions in to get him the nomination, and they’ve abandoned him since. Thiel, only under pressure from Rick Scott and Mitch McConnell, is allegedly going to commit more money.
There are horror stories about GOP fundraising this cycle. The problem is not that Republican donors are not giving. The problem is the small dollar donors are pouring money into Donald Trump’s Super PAC presuming that’s the PAC to win back Washington.
But Trump’s PAC is barely spending anything on anyone except Trump.
As Kim Strassel notes,
Only where’s the would-be kingmaker [Thiel] now? Sitting in his counting house, the doors firmly locked. Mr. Thiel has abandoned the Arizona race, as well as the Ohio Senate candidate he spent $15 million to nominate, J.D. Vance. Mr. Trump is meanwhile using this cycle to hoover up grassroots donations that might otherwise go to competitive midterm candidates and so far refuses to commit any of the estimated $99 million in a leadership PAC to his endorsees. The Lucys have pulled the football, leaving the GOP’s Arizona project to fall on its back.
That’s right. $99 million is parked on the sidelines. A lot of that is grassroots donor dollars hoarded by the former President instead of spent on those whom he endorsed.
The GOP isn’t running out of money to spend. It’s got the money. It’s just the operations that got the money won’t spend it.
Live by grift. Die by grift.
I have been thinking a lot about Teddy Roosevelt and Donald Trump. Roosevelt was a rich New Yorker that accurately captures popular anger and used it to defeat the GOP establishment.
That’s where the comparison ends. Roosevelt was sincerely interested in improving the country (even if that meant working with democrats) and he wanted ti leave the GOP in good hands when his time was done (William Howard Taft was his right hand man)
While Roosevelt loved himself. He didn’t love only himself. That is the key difference.
I wish Republican donors could be smarter. If the Republican Party pulled together, it would be even better. Why did the Republicans align the agenda with only Donald Trump? They should state their policies and mention him sometimes, but instead many bought into the name brand hook, line and sinker. If a donor donates to one candidate and not the party, the Republicans send out stupid questions like "Are you a socialist? Are you a Democrat?" and many other ridiculous headings. It is not a good way to win anyone over. I will vote Republican, but if I was an independent, these crazy tag lines would make me skeptical. The Republicans are always outsmarted by the Democrats. I sure hope the party gets it right soon or the outcome may not be good.