Republican leaders are growing increasingly worried that the administration’s fumbling in the Puerto Rico recovery from Hurricane Maria is whittling away President Trump’s reputation as a fixer and driving Hispanic voters further into the arms of Democrats.
“He did great in Florida and Texas. It reinstated his reputation as a builder and his promises to fix the nation,” said an adviser to House Republican leaders. But, the adviser added, “He dropped the ball and it could come back to hurt us in the midterms.”
GOP strategist Doug Heye agreed. “FEMA efforts in Houston and Florida went well and spoke to the image Trump pushed of him being someone who builds and fixes things. Puerto Rico gave him an opportunity to run the table and firm up that image even with voters skeptical of Trump positions and rhetoric on other issues.”
But “recovery efforts in Puerto Rico have been terrible and Trump’s blaming the victims reconfirm why Trump is unable to expand his base and why Republicans will continue to struggle with Hispanics.”
Trump, meanwhile, has moved to show support for Puerto Rico, cutting a video of support for the One America Appeal and meeting with the island’s governor who said the president responded immediately when asked for help.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
