Republican Ed Gillespie didn’t just lose his race for governor in Virginia on Tuesday. The former George W. Bush aide and Washington lobbyist led the GOP ticket in what ended up being a huge rout for the party. From gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam to the lieutenant governor and attorney general races, all the way down to what most thought would be sleepy house of delegates contests, Democrats won big in the Old Dominion.
After tweeting his endorsement for Gillespie on Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump, in South Korea, had this to say about the Virginia results:
Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Don’t forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 8, 2017
One senior Republican figure close to Trump suggested the party’s infrastructure took a break throughout much of 2017—and that a return to the sort of grassroots organizing and ground game of the kind that delivered big GOP wins in 2016 will be much needed in 2018.
But there’s another interpretation of their big defeat in Virginia that national Republicans are processing: Unless there’s a big win for Trump in Washington soon, Republican voters will continue to be demoralized going into the midterm elections next year. When there’s nothing for your party’s voters to be excited about, how can a better ground game deliver the votes?
And the elephant in the room—which Republicans in Washington don’t seem to have entirely realized—is that Trump and the GOP may not just be unpopular in well-educated suburbs like Northern Virginia. The president might even be a big motivating factor for Democrats and Democrat leaners. Combine that with a lack of enthusiasm among GOP leaners and how this dynamic would play out in House and Senate races next year isn’t clear. But Republicans will need to figure out how they can close an enthusiasm gap over the next 12 months.
More 2017 Election Stuff—Be sure to read Fred Barnes on last night’s winners (and losers); David Byler on the four lessons to take from Tuesday; and Chris Deaton on how the Virginia House of Delegates is the biggest story of the day.
As he continues his Asia trip, President Trump spent Tuesday in Seoul, meeting and dining with South Korean president Moon Jae-in.
In his brief public remarks, Moon heaped praise on Trump. “President Trump’s election victory one year ago is already making America great again,” he said. “Korea faces the task of making this world a better place through cooperation with a great America.”
Trump was equally gracious: “The partnership between our two nations is deep and enduring,” he said. “We have been proud to stand by your side for many decades as an unwavering friend and a loyal ally. And you have never had a time where this ally has been more loyal or stood by your side more than right now.”
Behind the scenes, however, things are much more tense. While the two leaders have found common cause in dealing with North Korea’s belligerence, they have clashed on economic issues. As with other countries, this boils down largely to trade: Trump has previously trashed America’s current free trade agreement with South Korea as a “horrible deal” and a “job killer.” On Tuesday, he referenced the deal again as “quite unsuccessful and not very good for the United States.”
The American president capped off his stop in Seoul with a speech to South Korea’s National Assembly. Trump took a hard line against North Korea in his address, noting that “Today, I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilized nations, when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us, and do not try us,” he said. “We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity, and our sacred liberty.”
Trump also noted that the United States has “nuclear submarines appropriately positioned” if and when North Korea launches a nuclear attack.
Can’t Make It Up—This story about White House aide Omarosa Manigault, via Politico: “The Apprentice villain turned senior White House official brought members of her 39-person bridal party to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for an extended wedding photo shoot, catching fellow senior aides and some security officials by surprise in her bridal attire. The visitors loudly wandered around, looking to snap photos in the Rose Garden and throughout the West Wing, according to four current and former White House officials.”
On the Vice President’s Schedule—Mike Pence will visit Sutherland Springs, Texas, Wednesday. The small town near San Antonio was the site of a mass shooting at a church Sunday that left 26 dead—including young children and an unborn child—and dozens more injured.
The vice president, I’m told, will be meeting with victims to offer comfort and support on behalf of the nation.
Song of the Day—“How Blue Can You Get?” by B.B. King
