Comparing Donald Trump’s surprising capture of the GOP presidential nomination to Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign, the presumptive nominee’s chief congressional ally is boldly predicting that the New York businessman will win in November on a message of economic hope.
“Millions of Americans drifted from the Reagan coalition to the Democratic coalition and there’s only one person making progress to bring them back and that’s Donald Trump,” said Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions.
Sen. Jeff Sessions endorsing Donald Trump. AP Photo
“Yes, Trump can win and will win. I believe Trump will win because he is generating enthusiasm and, in particular, he’s generating enthusiasm among the voters Republicans have lost, the people who make below median income,” added the first senator to endorse Trump, in an interview with Secrets.
Sessions said that many voters have given up on “Obama-Clinton,” and mocked Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“Hillary is same old, same old, and that’s the honest truth, she’s same old, same old, just an extension of Barack Obama,” said the senator, a former federal prosecutor appointed by Reagan.
Donald Trump is the likely GOP presidential nominee. AP Photo
The proof, he added, was her defeat this week in moderate Indiana to Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“She’s nowhere close to where the American people are. Her message, her history, is not resonating and is unlikely to ever resonate with the voters and generate enthusiasm. Look, think about this, too little has been said about it, but here with her super delegates, the nomination is locked up, and she just lost a mainstream state to a socialist. I mean she’s been losing primaries, and struggling in primaries when she should be the heir apparent and locked it up all up by now. This has got to be incredibly embarrassing to the Clinton campaign that she can’t even win after she’s won the nomination. I think that’s pretty huge,” said Sessions.
Sessions has begun encouraging lawmakers and pundits to endorse Trump as the Republican begins his general election campaign. It’s easier for politicians, after seeing millions of people vote for Trump, but harder for pundits and editorialists to join as fast, he suggested.
But, he added, “There are 50,000 voters for every one who writes columns in newspapers.”
Trump, he said, will build on his message to enforce immigration laws, negotiate better trade deals and bolster national security, and won’t back down to Clinton.
Sen. Jeff Sessions called Hillary Rodham Clinton the “same old, same old.” AP Photo.
“What Trump has proven is, they said that if you spoke up on immigration, you couldn’t win. They said if you speak up on trade, you’ll be killed. They said if you aren’t advocating an expansive foreign policy, that seeks to intervene where ever, you can’t win. Well who won the nomination?” said Sessions.
He portrayed Trump’s message as both conservative and hopeful. “He’s attuned to the voters, and many are angry and frustrated because leaders have refused to do what they’ve been requesting for 30 years, and he’s hopeful, ‘I know how to get things done and we’re going to make America great again,” said Sessions.
“I don’t think people have appreciated the fundamental hopefulness that he’s creating and I think it will be even more clear as time goes by. He says, ‘I know how to fix this problem and it’s been bad leadership, bad decisions, and you paid the price for it, and we’re gonna fix it,'” he said.
Sessions dismissed claims by Washington insiders that Trump isn’t qualified to be in the Oval Office. “He is prepared, the man is exceedingly competent, he’s traveled the world, he’s been a close observer of American politics, and he’s formed some opinions, and one of them is we need to protect the national interest,” said Sessions.
And that, combined with a string of victories against GOP rivals, all of whom have dropped out of the race, have helped to reinforce a belief among voters that Trump is best, said Sessions.
“The normal voter says, ‘You know, I like Trump. They say he’s bad, but my instincts are being affirmed by the victories and the size of the vote and he can win and he will win.’ And I think it will strengthen his support, is strengthening his support,” said the senator.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
