He Gets Bad Advice
We’ve talked previously about the impact of endorsements on political races, and in particular, the value of endorsements by former President Trump. Yesterday, his endorsement made a difference in a West Virginia congressional primary, putting him 56-0 in this cycle…but later in the evening, the first loss by a candidate he endorsed, in the Nebraska gubernatorial race. There are other factors…such as late allegations of sexual misconduct against the Trump-endorsed candidate and legendary coach Tom Osbourne endorsing someone else.
Two real tests come in successive weeks…the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, where Trump endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz, and the Georgia gubernatorial race, where Trump endorsed former U.S. Sen. David Perdue against incumbent Brian Kemp. Oz leads but it’s a three-way dead heat…and Perdue appears to be trailing in a five-candidate race.
What’s interesting to me is how some Trump supporters stand by their man, but don’t hold what are in essence “bad” endorsements against him. I filled in on the national show this week, and one caller noted that she was voting for the Trump candidate in her state…but did not like some of the endorsements he made elsewhere. When I asked why, she noted that “I think he gets bad advice.”
That sums up why the Trump factor is so bedeviling to professional politicians on both sides of the aisle. Some will vote for Trump forever, and will generally even vote for candidates he endorses–but they don’t hold against him the things that turn out poorly, like a bad endorsement.
The power of personality is huge in our society today, and that’s a far deeper connection than making a check list of policy positions.
