In Nevada, Adam Laxalt was one of the architects of efforts to overturn Biden’s victory and he recklessly fobbed off Trump’s falsehoods throughout the 2022 GOP Senate primary. But if someone else emerges to lead the GOP, watch how he or she does an about-face, moving to get on the right side of most voters. Naturally, if he’s the 2024 nominee, Trump will keep it up. Though not huge, the penalty will hopefully serve as a deterrent. Will Republicans care?Ī new study finds that GOP candidates paid a price for perpetuating Trump’s Big Lie about the 2020 election being stolen. Politics Column: There’s a price for parroting Trump’s Big Lie. The GOP lost winnable races in Nevada, Arizona, New Hampshire and elsewhere around the country, turning an anticipated red wave into a pink puddle, by fielding numerous candidates who parroted Trump and his incessant lies. Ramer is political director for the Republican Accountability Project, a group working to deprogram members of the Cult of Trump.Īs the 2022 midterms demonstrated, election denialism is a non-starter with most voters outside the MAGA minority. They’re running “Trumpward,” as GOP strategist Gunner Ramer put it, “scared of alienating the always-Trump bloc within the Republican Party.” It’s a well-thumbed page from the campaign playbook.īut today’s Republicans aren’t simply running rightward. There is, of course, nothing new about a candidate running to the right (or left) to secure their party’s nomination, then scurrying toward the center in the general election. Pence may not even qualify for the stage at next month’s scheduled Republican presidential debate. Chris Christie - and the one most directly associated with thwarting Trump’s failed attempt to reverse the election - former Vice President Mike Pence - are both running far out of contention for the nomination. The candidate most bluntly calling out Trump’s mendacity - New Jersey’s ex-Gov. The sentiment is strongest among the likeliest GOP voters roughly a third of the party base might be described as Bergdorf Goodman Republicans - those willing to back Trump even if he raped a woman in the department store’s dressing room. Polls have consistently shown most Republicans buying into Trump’s lie about a stolen election, or at least telling pollsters they do. Their motivation isn’t hard to figure out. Scott and others in the Republican presidential field glancingly acknowledge Biden’s victory (mumble, mumble) then go on to amplify provocative, unfounded claims of voter fraud and other election irregularities, which serves only to legitimize Trump’s bogus claims. Tim Scott blames the attempted coup on “the folks who broke into the Capitol” but not Trump - which is like faulting the gunman for a murder and absolving the mob boss who ordered the hit. Politics Column: Ron DeSantis faces a sobering lesson on ambition, hubris and big talkįormer big-state governors and failed presidential candidates like California’s Pete Wilson and Texas’ Rick Perry are a cautionary tale for the Florida governor.
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