Don backs Donovan over Grimm on SI
President Trump jumped headfirst into a bitter Republican congressional primary on Staten Island — endorsing incumbent Rep. Dan Donovan over his predecessor, convicted tax cheat Michael Grimm.
“There is no one better to represent the people of N.Y. and Staten Island (a place I know very well) than @RepDanDonovan, who is strong on Borders & Crime, loves our Military & our Vets, voted for Tax Cuts and is helping me to Make America Great Again. Dan has my full endorsement!” Trump said in a Wednesday-night tweet.
Trump also said Donovan was a safer choice than Grimm to win the general election.
“Very importantly, @RepDanDonovan will win for the Republicans in November . . . and his opponent will not,” Trump said.
“Remember Alabama. We can’t take any chances on losing to a Nancy Pelosi controlled Democrat!”
Trump was comparing convicted felon Grimm to Alabama’s disgraced GOP senatorial candidate Roy Moore, who lost his election to Democrat Doug Jones following numerous accusations of sexual misconduct.
Donovan, a former three-term district attorney, ran for and won the congressional seat after Grimm, an ex-FBI agent and Marine, was forced to step down in 2015 following his guilty plea to tax evasion in connection with a Manhattan restaurant he ran. He spent 16 months in prison.
Grimm, who has the support of former Trump communications di- rector Anthony Scaramucci, was quick to point out Donovan’s votes against the president in an effort to minimize Trump’s endorsement.
“All the endorsements in the world can’t change the facts: Donovan has failed to pass even one substantive bill into law and has voted against President Trump every time it’s mattered,” Grimm said.
He also noted that, despite the claim in Trump’s tweet, Donovan did not vote for the tax-cut plan.
Still, Trump putting his thumb on the scale is a big boost for Donovan, who was thrilled with the president’s support. Trump carried the 11th Congressional District, which encompasses Staten Island and south Brooklyn, over Hillary Clinton in 2016.
“JUST IN: President Trump endorsed our campaign! As fellow New Yorkers this is very exciting news. We’re excited to continue working together for the American people,” Donovan tweeted.
Former city mayor and current Trump legal adviser Rudy Giuliani is also backing Donovan.
Grimm cannot be discounted, GOP sources say. But he is an energetic campaigner who remains a popular figure within the party with a passionate grass-roots following. Grimm lawn signs dot the borough, and some politicos say he could win.
When Grimm ran for re-election in 2014 while under indictment, he won by 13 points. Many hard-core supporters even shrug off his overthe-top pugnaciousness — once infamously threatening to throw a NY1 reporter over a balcony for asking a question about a federal probe into him.
There is no one better to represent the people of N.Y. and Staten Island . . . than @RepDanDonovan. — President Trump’s tweet