The Club for Growth launched a major salvo into the 2016 presidential campaign that aims directly at Donald Trump. The influential fiscal conservative organization announced a one million-dollar ad buy in Iowa, an early nominating state, calling Trump the worst kind of politician.
“Donald Trump is the worst Republican candidate on economic issues,” said David McIntosh, president of the club. “Trump is the most liberal candidate on fiscal policy in the whole field, with the possible exception of Bernie Sanders.”
The slate of ads will begin running later this week highlight Trump’s past statements saying he identifies most as a Democrat and criticizing his support for eminent domain. McIntosh told reporters he plans to keep airing the ad until people realize Trump is not an economic conservative candidate and that donors have been “very supportive” and “enthusiastic” of the critical attack on Trump.
“Trump wouldn’t change Washington, he’d be the classic politician,” McIntosh told reporters at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. “We’ve tested the ads and this will let us do a sustained several-week buy that will give us a thousand rating points. And what that means is we’re confident most people in Iowa will see this messages.”
Trump is unlikely to take the criticism lying down and has previously spoken ill of the club on Twitter. “The phony Club For Growth, which asked me in writing for $1,000,000 (I said no), is now wanting to do negative ads on me,” Trump tweeted on Sept. 6. “Total hypocrites!”
As the presidential race heats up after the Labor Day holiday, more fireworks between Trump and the club and other like-minded conservative groups should be expected.
