The latest moves come amid growing concerns in the Republican Party that Trump’s political interests and the will of the broader Republican Party diverge when he leaves office. Indeed, the president He angered Republicans in the Senate Using fund-raising appeals for the Georgia Senate return rounds to send money to the newly formed Political Action Committee. Trump also released a graphic indicating that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell – who is set to become the top Republican in Washington next month – owes his wide reelection margin to Trump.
Now, it is becoming clear that Trump’s cash flow PAC could be deployed within two years against the rest of the Republican Party who dislikes Trump. Trump’s tweets and public statements have sacked some Republican officials from their posts during his administration, but PAC could be an effective new tool in his ongoing quest to form the party.
Trump’s forces sent a warning flame on Wednesday when they launched a $ 5 million television and radio ad campaign calling for legislatures in Republican-controlled states to hold hearings on voter fraud. Some commercials are running in Georgia, whose governor, Brian Kemp, is on the verge of being reelected in 2022, but he has come under heavy criticism from the president for not bowing to Trump’s calls to cancel the election results.
The announcements urge listeners to contact Kemp and lawmakers and “ask them to check the” voting machines “and hear the evidence. Previously, Trump publicly encouraged outgoing Republican Representative Doug Collins to mount a fundamental challenge against Kemp during his recent campaign visit to Georgia.
The attack comes before Congress votes on January 6 to approve the Electoral College, which will end President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November election. Many Republicans are expected to vote in favor of validating the electoral votes, and people close to the president say that in itself is not a true test of whether the lawmaker will receive an initial Trump-endorsed challenge.
Instead, Trump advisers are turning their focus to Republicans who have spoken out against Trump’s longstanding challenge to testify. The president and his team are particularly angry at the whip John Thun of South Dakota in the Senate, who has said the gambit will “collapse like a hound” in the Senate.
Trump advisers say they are paying special attention to three Republicans facing re-election – Kemp Watton and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski – against whom the president has spoken out forcefully. But they cautioned against making final decisions about whether to defeat them in 2022.
“President Trump has the most influence on social media and the largest political war fund in the country, and he will not be afraid to use it in 2022 to elect Republicans loyal to Trump – even if that means running in the primaries,” one senior official said. Trump’s political advisor.
Trump advisers say they have not ruled out enlisting key competitors who are friendly to Trump. They are also considering whether to launch a separate political action committee focused on supporting 2022 candidates, and some of them may be looking to oust Republican incumbents.
It is unlikely that there will be a shortage of money. Trump maintains a huge, small donor list Since the elections, he has raised more than $ 200 million To a group of interconnected political groups, many of them through appeals centered around the idea of stealing elections from him.
The exact outlines of Trump’s political apparatus are still being worked out, though some details are beginning to emerge. a Policy-oriented processWhich is expected to be less focused on electoral activities, it is expected to be chaired by White House domestic policy advisor Brooke Rollins and National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow.
Trump has a long history of exercising control over the Republican Party through the Republican nomination competitions. His support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Kemp paved the way for their 2018 primary victories. Trump also put his weight that year against Rep. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, who would have lost his re-nomination.
In 2018, he also endorsed Republican Chris Kobach in the primaries over incumbent GOP Governor, Jeff Collier. Kobash ended up winning the primary before losing the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly.
The primaries could be a major way for Trump to maintain his influence over the party once he leaves office. While his political plans for the post-White House are still in progress, advisers say they envision him taking on the role of kingmaker as he picks and picks preferred candidates.
However, getting rid of the incumbents may not be that easy. Thon has long been popular in South Dakota, where he was first elected to the Senate in 2004. After the president called for Thon’s primary challenge in a tweet Tuesday, South Dakota Gov. Christy Noem, a Trump ally, immediately knocked herself out of the row as an opponent. Possible.
But Trump aides insist that unimaginative Republican lawmakers behind the idea that the president was a victim in the 2020 election is in a dangerous place. a USA Today / Suffolk University Survey Released Thursday, it showed that 78 percent of Republicans believe Biden was elected illegally. In a Fox News poll Earlier this month, 68 percent of Republicans said the election was stolen from the president.
Trump’s post-election target list included a long list of Republicans, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Arizona Governor Doug Dossi. The president’s attacks have raised broader concerns within the party that the post-presidency will be devastating for the Republican Party.
However, he has yet to commit to dislodging anyone. For now, his electoral activity is concentrated in Georgia, where he is slated to campaign for Republican Senators David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler the day before the January 5 run-off, which will determine which party controls the Senate.
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