USA TODAY International Edition

GOP owes presumptiv­e Democratic nominee

- Dan Carney Dan Carney is a USA TODAY editorial writer.

CLEVELAND For a quarter-century, Hillary Clinton has been the GOP’s go- to gal for outrage. Initially her status was achieved largely through proximity to her politicall­y gifted, Republican- defying, draft- dodging, womanizing husband. That would change with her activism as first lady, particular­ly her efforts at health care reform, and through an uncanny ability to create scandals only to muddle her way through them.

But she has also been invaluable, helping the GOP to motivate its base and unify its factions. She did both — in absentia — during the often rancorous Republican primary debates. And she has done so again this week. Whenever things got rough, when the #NeverTrump delegates revolted, or Melania Trump gave a plagiarize­d speech, or Ted Cruz went off the reservatio­n, a call to put Clinton in jail brought harmony.

Now Clinton might be about to provide her biggest gift yet to Republican­s — by rescuing them from the inevitable disaster of a Trump presidency.

Sure, many rank- and- file Republican­s would be genuinely apoplectic if she won. But many, particular­ly in leadership positions, would be secretly relieved.

A President Trump would be problemati­c for the country. His lack of experience in national security and internatio­nal economics has been painfully obvious. His inability to run something as simple as a campaign suggests that he’d fail miserably trying to manage a government. And his status as a “race- baiting, xenophobic religious bigot” ( to quote fellow Republican Lindsey Graham) does not bode well for domestic tranquilit­y.

But it is the party itself that could lose the most from a Trump presidency. He’d make its predicamen­t — declining support from the growing parts of the electorate — a permanent condition. His rejection of key GOP tenets such as limited government, free trade and American leadership in world affairs would muddy the party’s message.

A Clinton presidency, on the other hand, would give Republican­s a chance to regroup. They could learn from Trump’s ability to appeal to previously ignored voters while jettisonin­g his more polarizing tactics. They could make the necessary adjustment­s to attract at least some of the growing non- white electorate. Their repeated losses at the presidenti­al level would be a source of despair but also a motivation to do what it takes to actually win.

History suggests it wouldn’t be that hard. The last two times that parties lost big by fielding flawed candidates ( Republican­s in 1964 with Barry Goldwater and Democrats in 1972 with George McGovern), they were able to win the presidency four years later.

Clinton already has sky- high disapprova­l ratings and could create new scandals and mini-tempests to weigh her down further. After 12 years of Democratic administra­tions, the public would be hungry for an alternativ­e.

Republican­s will, no doubt, continue caustic attacks on Clinton. At some point, they should thank her for helping them out in their moment of need.

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