- Trump closely monitors DNC attacks
- Rallies focus on economy, border, crime
- Fans favor Trump’s personal style
Donald Trump is not in Chicago, but his presence is palpable, and he is certainly paying attention to what is going on here.
Some advisers told me, somewhat implausibly, that the former president is not watching the Democratic National Convention because he does not want to witness a Democratic Party “infomercial.”
However, one senior campaign official says, anonymously, that Trump is monitoring and annoyed by the attacks on him.
One ally who interacts with the former president every week believes Trump will win in November if he focusses on the economy, the border, and crime.
That appeared to be a possibility earlier this week. Trump planned a series of events in Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona, each focused around specific political and economic issues.
However, with night after night of anti-Trump speeches in Chicago, remaining on theme has become impossible. And it isn’t what his fans say they want.
The North Carolina rally on Wednesday was classic Trump, and it became a referendum on his own team’s approach. “They always say, ‘Sir, just stick to policy; don’t get personal.’ But these guys [the Democrats] are being personal all night long. Do I still have to comply with the policy? Trump enquired.
Then he polled the audience: more policy, or get personal? His fans erupted; they wanted the Trump show, not a slew of boring economic promises. “My advisers are fired!” he laughed. He then stated that he would adhere to rules but could not allow the attacks to go unanswered.
So the campaign plan now appears to be at the mercy of the candidate and his supporters’ input. That makes life tough for his campaign advisers, who have repeatedly told me that their number one concern in this election campaign is keeping Trump focused on issues rather than divisive personal insults.
There have already been a few of those this week.
Late Wednesday night, Trump resorted to social media to criticise Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who had given a stirring speech earlier that evening. Trump evidently disliked what he heard.
Trump wrote that Josh Shapiro, the highly overrated Jewish Governor of the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, gave a terrible and poorly delivered speech.
I’ve done more for Israel than any other president… Shapiro has done nothing for Israel and never will.
The fact that he identified Mr. Shapiro as Jewish did not go unnoticed. It was highlighted on US morning shows as an example of a racist dog whistle.
“Unlock your financial potential with free Webull shares in the UK.”
Following the Obamas’ criticism of Trump at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, he responded during his rally in North Carolina with a similar racial insult.
Did you see Barack Hussein Obama last night? Trump asked. He was aiming shots at your president. Michelle was also present.
True, they took some personal jabs at him, but the use of Mr. Obama’s middle name has long been exploited to incite racial animosity against him.
The problem for the Trump campaign is that their candidate lives on controversy, which dominates news and distracts from their efforts to highlight flaws in his opponent’s policy stances.
“It doesn’t matter what he talks about for 45 minutes,” one adviser told me, under the condition of anonymity. A single comment or response to a question is all that is left to change the subject.
