'Impossible' to lose after a Trump endorsement? Plus: Trump and his legacy; back on 'NewsHour'
By Gary Abernathy
WV’s Mooney says ‘impossible’ to lose after Trump nod
Republican candidates across the country are lining up to kiss the ring of former president Donald Trump in the hopes of securing his endorsement in the 2022 midterm elections.
One of the latest to win the coveted nod is Alex Mooney, Republican congressman from West Virginia. That state is losing one of its three congressional districts due to redistricting, forcing a primary between Mooney and fellow Republican Congressman David McKinley.
Hoppy Kercheval, longtime broadcaster and political observer in the Mountain State, was told by Mooney that Trump’s endorsement “basically makes it impossible” for McKinley to defeat him in a primary.
“But in politics, saying something is “impossible,” just means it hasn’t happened yet. McKinley has deep roots in West Virginia, unlike Mooney who moved to West Virginia from Maryland prior to the 2014 election.
McKinley also has established GOP credentials from his four years as Republican Party chairman and 14 years in the West Virginia House of Delegates. McKinley has served in Congress since 2011.
McKinley also has a geographic advantage since he already represents 65 percent of the Republican voters who are in the new district. However, that brings us back to the Trump endorsement.
Hoppy invited me on his show Wednesday morning to discuss the situation. I asked him whatever happened to the art of lowering expectations, as opposed to declaring victory a year in advance? You can check it out by clicking above.
What could derail Trump’s legacy? A Trump candidacy.
In my latest Washington Post piece, I argue that Donald Trump still has a chance to salvage his legacy. How? By allowing Trumpism to flourish for a generation, as Reaganism did. The only danger to that is Trump running again.
I noted that Trump has always been focused on his legacy in the world of business, but…
Trump undoubtedly frets about his political legacy, too. Right now, he’ll be reviled for his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election, leading to an assault on the U.S. Capitol. But over time, the success or failure of the political movement he spawned could significantly alter how history remembers Trump…
…Reagan’s economic and social conservativism became woven into America’s fabric, with a significant impact on both Republicans and Democrats…
…Trumpism has already demonstrated an appeal beyond Trump. In the recent Virginia governor’s race, Republican Glenn Youngkin was smeared as a Trump clone, and the effort worked — although not as intended. Polling conducted for The Post and other media organizations presented two interesting findings: Trump remained personally unpopular, and 70 percent of voters agreed that “Youngkin’s ideas and policies were similar to Trump’s.”
Youngkin was victorious. Lesson: Trumpism, without Trump, is a winner... If he runs again in 2024, Trump will almost certainly capture the GOP nomination. But he risks losing in November, permanently derailing his movement and cementing a legacy of disgrace.
You can read the whole piece here. Subscription may be required if you’ve reached your limit of free articles for the month.
Round Two of ‘Capehart & Abernathy’ on ‘NewsHour’
I enjoyed being back in Washington last Friday for another segment recapping the week’s news with The Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart on the “PBS NewsHour,” hosted by Judy Woodruff. We discussed the infrastructure bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden, as well as inflation and the continued incivility in Washington. Check it out above.
Looking forward to another visit Friday.
Rittenhouse case ripe for news media evaluation
There’s a lot to say about the Kyle Rittenhouse case, especially in regard to the initial reporting that was done on the tragic incident, but we’ll wait for the verdict and a couple of days to let it all sink in. More soon.
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