DIVIDE & CONQUER
Trump unlike typical GOPer – Clinton Dem hopefuls uneasy with her tactic
WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton is working hard to prove Donald Trump isn’t a normal Republican — and down-ticket GOP candidates are just fine with that.
Clinton went full blast against Trump’s racism last week, the latest in a series of high-profile speeches aimed at disqualifying the GOP nominee by showing that he’s much worse than the run-of-the-mill Republican.
Her argument that Trump is different from the rest of his party complicates Senate and House Democratic candidates’ attempts to strap their opponents to his sinking campaign.
“This is not a normal choice between a Republican and a Democrat. We are facing a divisive candidate,” Clinton said on MSNBC Friday.
That message began during the primaries, was heavily featured during the Democratic National Convention, and has become the core of her argument for why she must win in November. And it seems to be working: Clinton has a healthy lead in most swing state polls in spite of her own favorability issues.
But that's not the argument down-ticket Democrats want to make.
“We all know what Donald Trump has said about women. So how can Rob Portman still support him? Maybe it’s because they agree on so much,” a new ad from former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, says, attacking his Republican Senate opponent for opposing abortion, equal pay laws and Planned Parenthood. “Rob Portman has endorsed a man for President who doesn’t respect women at all.”
Republicans across the country are outpolling Trump. And while it’s unclear whether many will be able to outpace him by enough come Election Day to prevail, Clinton’s main message does little to undercut their argument that they’re not like their broadly disliked nominee.
“The Trump brand is viewed by the American people as completely separate from the Republican Party’s. People don’t just recognize Pat Toomey and Donald Trump as two different candidates — they view (Pennsylvania Sen. Toomey) as a Republican and Trump as Trump. Trump has introduced himself as a totally different brand,” argued Rob Collins, who worked on Jeb Bush’s
presidential campaign and ran the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2014.
Democrats aren’t looking to prove their opponents are miniatures of the one-of-a-kind Trump, though. Instead, they’re trying to up the pressure on Republicans who have squirmed all over the place when pushed on whether — and how much — they’ll support their presidential nominee.
“What’s troubling voters is the fact that these Republicans continue to support Donald Trump and are putting their party in front of the country's interests,” said Democratic media guru Jon Vogel, who is working on a number of House and Senate races.
Candidate quality and personal brands always matter. And if history is any indicator, it’s much easier to build a separate profile in expensive statewide Senate and gubernatorial races than in House races, where candidates usually have enough money for only a few weeks’ advertising.
Portman has used his big cash edge to help open up a lead on Strickland — outside the polls’ margins of error — even as Clinton has pulled ahead in the state. And while Portman’s tepid endorsement of Trump leaves some on both sides feeling dissatisfied, it’s an open question whether voters will ultimately hold him responsible for his party’s leader.
“Every time voters are reminded of how dangerous Trump is, they are reminded that people like (GOP national officeholders) Joe Heck, Kelly Ayotte and Rob Portman lack the independence and courage to buck their party and stand up to Trump. These candidates put party loyalty above their country and above common sense, and we will keep reinforcing how dangerous that is given their support for Donald Trump,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee communications chief Sadie Weiner.
Private polling from both parties indicates that House Republicans are faring better — so far — at floating above Trump. Republican strategists say that’s a sign that voters can differentiate between Trump and their own House members.
“At the end of the, day voters are much smarter than what Democrats are crediting them for and understand their members of Congress are their own people and have represented their districts in the best possible way and have brought home results. That is going to ensure their success this fall,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Katie Martin.
This is not a normal choice between a Republican and a Democrat. We are facing a divisive candidate. — HILLARY CLINTON