The guy has 35% approval average in most places….
He ain’t ALL THAT….
(He STILL get’s wins)
But his ok isn’t a ‘Lock’ anymore…..
President Donald Trump loves to brag about his near-spotless record of endorsing winners in Republican primaries.
That winning streak faded this summer. His picks for governor in four states failed to win the nomination, including the notorious election denier Mike Lindell in Minnesota. A pair of Trump-backed House candidates in Michiganand Tennessee lost their primaries this month. And his emphatic early support for Sen. Darline Graham didn’t deter a slew of Republicans from jumping into the race for her late brother’s Senate seat — forcing her into a runoff.
The president has still endorsed far more winners than losers overall. But with his approval ratings slumping and Republicans struggling to build momentum in the midterm campaign, the exceptions to the rule may increasingly be telling a story about Trump’s prized clout.
Trump deferred to loyalty in many of these endorsements, perhaps putting his record at risk for especially close allies. But unlike in 2022 – when his stamp of approval all but assured Republicans would get through the primary, only to face mixed results in the general – his endorsement this year wasn’t enough to overcome candidates’ flaws.
Trump’s reach will be tested again next week in Florida when his gubernatorial nominee, Rep. Bryon Donalds, is on the ballot. Another test will come later this month in South Carolina when Graham needs to clear her runoff against Freedom Caucus stalwart Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.).
“In Florida and throughout the country, Donald Trump’s endorsement is a major factor in any Republican primary. Usually, it is decisive, but there are exceptions,” said former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.).
Trump has backed 17 candidates in open Republican gubernatorial primaries this year, according to a POLITICO analysis of his public endorsements. Ten of those candidates have gone on to win their primaries, but four have fallen. His remaining three endorsements are in Florida, Oklahoma and Wyoming….
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