He has drawn parallels between himself and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who tragically passed away while imprisoned by Vladimir Putin in the Arctic. He has even gone so far as to consider himself a political dissident, just like Navalny.
He consistently spreads false information about the election he lost during his public appearances.
Candidates who are poised to secure their parties’ nominations often adjust their messaging and moderate their positions. This strategic move is known as a “pivot” in political terms. The purpose behind this pivot is to appeal to a wider audience, rather than just catering to hardcore primary voters.
Former President Donald Trump is not one to shy away from using provocative and divisive language, which often alienates a large portion of the electorate. Despite calls from his loyal supporters to temper his rhetoric and appeal to a broader audience, Trump remains steadfast in his approach, showing no signs of toning down his inflammatory and sometimes counterproductive tendencies.
Senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita emphasized that Donald Trump’s essence remains unchanged. He firmly stated, “Donald Trump is Donald Trump. That’s not going to change.” LaCivita further emphasized that their objective is not to transform Trump’s persona but rather focus on other aspects of their campaign.
LaCivita and other top campaign officials, on the other hand, assert that their purpose is to enhance and promote Trump’s message.
According to him, the campaign had already adopted a stance resembling that of a general election even before the voting commenced. They ran advertisements criticizing President Joe Biden prior to the Iowa caucuses. Although Trump is currently mentioning his last remaining GOP competitor, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, to a lesser extent, his campaign is primarily dedicated to establishing a framework for the general election. As they shift their attention from early voting states to the battlegrounds of November, their focus is on expanding their infrastructure.
Efforts are underway to take control of the Republican National Committee, aiming to centralize the party’s and campaign’s fundraising, political operations, communications, and research. As part of this plan, LaCivita is set to assume the position of the RNC’s chief operating officer, while also maintaining his current role within the campaign.
According to LaCivita, the campaign has shifted its focus because they believe they have already achieved everything necessary for victory. This change will be evident not only in the campaign’s message but also in its operations and strategies. LaCivita also mentioned that we can anticipate a continuation of the current approach once Trump officially secures the nomination, which is predicted to happen later this month.
The Biden reelection team is capitalizing on Trump’s well-known and divisive rhetoric in order to rally disenchanted Democrats and independent voters against the possibility of a second term. Despite being a familiar aspect of Trump’s persona, these harsh edges still elicit a strong reaction and serve as effective ammunition for the Biden campaign.
During his rallies, Trump captivates his audience with lengthy speeches that can span up to two hours. Throughout his discourse, he seamlessly transitions between policy proposals, personal anecdotes, humorous remarks, verbal assaults on his adversaries, grievances regarding perceived persecution by the courts, and alarming predictions about the nation’s future. While Trump occasionally inserts impromptu remarks into his prepared remarks, it is worth noting that some of his most contentious statements are actually scripted.
During a recent rally, Trump took his criticism of Biden’s handling of the border to a new extreme, suggesting that it was part of a conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America.
According to Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for Biden, Donald Trump remains the same controversial and risky candidate that voters rejected in 2020. Munoz believes that regardless of the people Trump surrounds himself with, voters will reject him once again in the upcoming November elections.
Trump’s advisers have occasionally urged him to focus more on outlining his second term agenda rather than dwelling on grievances and seeking revenge. However, Trump has become set in his ways after running three presidential campaigns and serving four years in office. Former aides quickly discovered that attempting to curtail Trump’s impulsive behavior only resulted in him doubling down. Moreover, his campaign team holds great respect and confidence in the former president’s political instincts, which have proven successful in his overwhelming victory in the GOP primaries thus far.
According to Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, the president will remain unchanged. He emphasized that American citizens deserve a leader who will provide them with an honest and unfiltered perspective on global affairs.
Republicans, including Trump supporters and those who still support Haley’s campaign, are expressing concerns about Trump potentially missing out on a golden opportunity to challenge Biden. They believe that Biden’s low approval ratings and the widespread doubts about his age and ability to serve a second term make him vulnerable.
Tom Davis, a former Virginia congressman who supports Haley, emphasized the need for Trump to shift the focus away from himself. Despite positive economic indicators, Davis pointed out concerns about inflation, Biden’s handling of the border, and the deficit.
Even supporters of Trump appear to acknowledge the issue: Based on data from AP VoteCast, approximately half of Republicans in conservative South Carolina, including around a quarter of Trump’s own followers, express concern that he may be too extreme to secure victory in the general election. Although Trump enjoys widespread support among conservative voters, it is important to note that these voters accounted for only 37% of the total electorate in the November 2020 presidential election.
On Saturday, Trump hosted rallies in North Carolina and Virginia, two states that will be holding primaries on Super Tuesday. These states are not only significant for the upcoming primaries but also crucial swing states in the general election in November.
Trump’s potential challenges in the upcoming November election are evident in both states. He enjoys strong support among conservatives, particularly in rural and small-town areas. However, he faces difficulties in winning over more moderate voters in urban settings.
In North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat who won re-election in 2020 despite Trump’s victory in the state, expressed his appreciation for the distinctive differences between Trump and Biden.
“Would you prefer a president who starts each day with the American people in mind?” he questioned during an interview. “Or would you rather have a president who begins each morning with a focus solely on himself?”
In 2020, Virginia was won by Biden, but a year later, the state elected Republican Glenn Youngkin as governor. Youngkin’s campaign focused on education and economic policies, which appealed to urban and suburban moderates who had distanced themselves from Trump. Interestingly, some of the suburban and exurban congressional districts in the state have shifted towards favoring Democrats during the Trump era.
Youngkin has not endorsed Trump, and he declined an interview request through his aides.
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, a close ally of Trump who maintains occasional communication with the former president, drew parallels between the upcoming 2024 election and the historical significance of the 1980 election. In 1980, Republican Ronald Reagan achieved a resounding victory over Democratic incumbent Jimmy Carter, who faced challenges such as inflation, high unemployment, and international conflicts. Reagan, known as “the happy warrior,” secured victory by presenting a positive vision for the future, rather than focusing solely on Carter’s record. This approach resonated with voters, resulting in Reagan winning 44 states and a Republican Senate majority.
According to Gingrich, with the impressive numbers that Biden possesses, the key to winning over people is to strike a balance of approximately 70% positive messaging and 30% anti-Biden rhetoric. He firmly believes that Trump has the potential to generate a Republican surge, much like the one he achieved when he defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016.
There is a possibility of history repeating itself, just like it did in 2018 when Republicans lost the House majority, in 2020 when Trump lost and Democrats regained Senate control, and in 2022 when Republicans failed to win winnable Senate races and flip the chamber.
According to South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, he believes that Trump and his campaign should continue with their current approach.
After his presidential campaign in 2016, Graham has undergone a significant shift in his stance. He previously made a strong declaration, stating that nominating Trump would lead to disastrous consequences. However, he has now become a close ally and trusted advisor of Trump.
Lindsey Graham expressed his admiration for Donald Trump’s ability to handle advice, stating, “Everybody that wants to give him advice, he beat like a drum,” during Trump’s South Carolina victory party.
