(Adnkronos) – Despite Donald Trump’s intention to be an increasingly prominent figure in the Republican midterm election campaign, several candidates from his party, especially those involved in the most difficult challenges, would prefer to keep the president as far away as possible from their constituencies. This is what emerges from over twenty interviews conducted by Politico with GOP parliamentarians, candidates, and strategists, who describe a party divided on how to manage a president whose approval ratings are declining, partly due to the unpopular war with Iran – not shared by all Republicans – and the rising cost of living for Americans. “We told them he can’t come,” explained a senior GOP official involved in a competitive House race in a district won by Trump with a double-digit margin in 2024. “Frankly, he wouldn’t be helpful here. I don’t think they would send him without our green light. And even if they did, we probably wouldn’t campaign with him.”
According to four Republican strategists, some candidates in swing districts have already informed Trump’s political staff that they do not want a presidential visit before the November vote, while important party pollsters have advised at-risk candidates to avoid talking about Trump during the campaign or, at least, to limit direct references. However, distancing oneself carries equally obvious risks: it could alienate the Maga base and irritate the president himself, while his super PAC Maga Inc. has over $400 million that the party hopes will be used in decisive challenges. “Some of the indications have been: ‘If you mention him too much, you’re screwed, but you’re also screwed if you don’t stay in his good graces.’ That’s the problem,” summarized a Republican congressman involved in a competitive race.
Trump, for his part, has announced to Republicans that he intends to be heavily involved in the last 30 days of the election campaign and has already indicated Alaska and Texas, states won in 2024 with about a 14-point lead, among his next destinations to support Senator Dan Sullivan and Ken Paxton, respectively. And it is precisely in the most solidly Republican territories that many in the GOP would like to concentrate the president’s presence, leveraging his ability to mobilize the base without risking alienating moderate voters in the most contested districts. “Trump remains the most powerful tool to mobilize less frequent Republican voters or Trumpian voters,” explained a party strategist, according to whom his name can be used in a targeted way “by mail, online, or via message.” But, he added, “I won’t try to bring him to town if he’s down in the polls and risks harming us with the majority of voters.”
