The National Republican Senatorial Committee is urging Senate candidates to adopt the same tactics and approaches as Donald Trump and to “limit their criticisms.” The committee admits that Trump could win the general election.
The memo, which the Washington Post got a hold of, is titled “Observations on Donald Trump and 2016.” In the leaked memo NRSC executive director Ward Baker admits that Trump can win the election.
“Trump has been gaining Democrat adherents and he’s solidifying GOP cohorts who feel they’ve been totally ignored by the Washington Ruling Class” Baker says. “If the environment aligns properly, Trump could win. It’s not a bet most would place now, but it could happen.”
“We may not like it, but Trump has connected with voters on issues like trade with China and America’s broken borders” writes Baker.
Baker also writes that Republicans can’t spend their time fighting Trump, but that they should embrace some of his style tactics instead. He warns that, if Trump becomes the nominee, attacking him “will ensure that the GOP vote is depressed.”
The memo also includes ways in which candidates can be more like Trump. From the Washington Post:
In the memo on the “Trump phenomenon,” NRSC executive director Ward Baker said Republicans should embrace his tough talk about China and “grab onto the best elements of [his] anti-Washington populist agenda.” Above all, they should appeal to voters as genuine and beyond the influence of special interests.
“Trump has risen because voters see him as authentic, independent, direct, firm, — and believe he can’t be bought,” Baker writes. “These are the same character traits our candidates should be advancing in 2016. That’s Trump lesson #1.”
In the memo, Baker suggests staying away from criticizing women and to denounce some of the controversial comments that Trump has made. He says that, “Candidates shouldn’t go near this ground other than to say that your wife or daughter is offended by what Trump said.” He adds that, “We do not want to re-engage the ‘war on women’ fight.”
Baker says that candidates should be more authentic like Trump and to be social media savvy like his campaign has been.
Political elites have been saying for months that Trump would eventually fade. The memo suggests that top Republicans not only believe he may win the nomination, but are preparing for it.
“Trump continues to rise” writes Baker. “And the criticisms seem to make him stronger.”
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