Donald Trump’s surge into the lead of the Republican presidential primary can be credited partly to two groups he has rarely engaged: social conservatives and Evangelical Christians.
“Trump is tapping into deep-seated anger in America, a nation founded by Christians ‘for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith,'” said David Lane, a prominent national Evangelical political organizer. “He’s tapping into something at the grassroots, precinct level of America. America is starving for moral, principled leadership. I hope that Donald Trump brings that.”
A leader in the social conservative movement, meanwhile, said Trump’s promise to restore “order” on the border with Mexico has wowed voters so disgusted with Washington that they have given up voting.
“Trump speaks up, lays it out in plain language and the ‘silent majority,’ who’ve checked out of politics because neither party has taken action to secure our border, all of a sudden surge back into the political conversation,” he said on background.
And Trump is responding. Sources said conservative and Evangelical leaders are reaching out to the billionaire tycoon, and he’s listening. Their goal is to firm up his positions on key issues such as abortion and gay marriage. “In that, it is the same as with Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio or Rand Paul,” said one source.
“If Trump is willing to learn about politics and discipline himself, he might well be our nominee,” added a conservative adviser close to Trump’s team. “And if so, might very well be our next president.”
Clinton’s secret: Republicans want to help her
Hillary Clinton and her campaign team think they have the secret to succeeding where President Obama hasn’t: House and Senate Republicans.
While political division has reached new heights in Washington, Clinton’s team is making the case that Obama’s former top diplomat has a better touch with Republicans, even those who don’t like her.
“She is someone who has had success in the past in people wanting to work with her people who had been politically not aligned with her, I would say, to put it mildly, particularly during her husband’s administration,” said campaign communications boss Jennifer Palmieri. “She managed a way to find how to make progress.”
One example aides cite: After so-called “Hillarycare” went down in flames in 1994, she worked with Republicans to pass the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides health coverage to more than 8 million children.
“They have wanted to work with her in the past,” Palmieri said.
And, she added, Clinton will take her battle out of Washington to enlist state and local officials, businesses and non-governmental organizations.
Without criticizing Clinton’s former boss, Palmieri said, “It’s beyond Washington. I worked for President Obama so I know how hard this can be, you have to advocate.”
And when all else fails, Clinton won’t go golfing. “She’s also someone who stays at it,” Palmieri said. “This is part of what she does, she grinds it out.”
Santorum: Politics is ‘the family business’
Running for president is stressful enough. But with seven kids at home, one of whom requires 24/7 nursing?
“There are some challenges out there,” admits Republican Rick Santorum, making his second bid for the presidency.
The conservative famously left the trail in 2012 to deal with the constant sickness of daughter Bella. Now, he said, “She is doing better than she ever has.” His six other kids are in the teen and college years and are eager to join him campaigning.
“It’s sort of like the family business in some respects,” said Santorum, who is sitting in the middle of the pack of candidates just like in 2012 when he emerged in a shocker to win the Iowa caucus and challenge Mitt Romney.
His experience last time has him encouraged that another campaign won’t strain the family. “Last time around, it was a family enterprise. In spite of the travel and other things, it many respects, it brought the family closer together,” the former Pennsylvania senator told the Washington Examiner.
But don’t look for his wife, Karen, to be at his side many days. The reason is that she would have to turn over care for Bella to a full-time nurse, he said, and “that becomes economically challenging … 24 hours a day gets expensive.”
Quote:
“Now, we need to be honest. There are a lot of folks who belong in prison. If we’re going to deal with this problem and the inequities involved, then we also have to speak honestly. There are some folks who need to be in jail.”
— President Obama discussing prison reform before the NAACP
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
