San Diego Union Tribune: Desmond’s “endorsement by President Donald Trump — a strategically questionable move in a hotly contested purple district — makes [gaining Democratic crossover votes] far less likely”
MAGA Jim Desmond has a Trump problem.
Local news outlets are already warning that Desmond will spend the general election trying to defend Donald Trump’s deeply unpopular agenda that is ripping away health care, taking food off families’ tables, and driving up costs.
The San Diego Union Tribune put it plainly:“[Desmond’s] Trump endorsement only seemed to energize Democrats and give pause to many independents, who… polls show, are increasingly sour on the president….”
For a candidate walking such a political tightrope, you’d think Desmond would avoid reminding voters of his allegiance to “the most toxic brand in California” – Trump.
Instead…here’s a real photo from his latest private Republican event:
DCCC Spokesperson Anna Elsasser:
“Jim Desmond has spent his campaign embracing Donald Trump and the cost-raising Republican agenda, and now he will be stuck defending it. While working families worry about higher costs and losing their health care, Desmond is doubling down on the same extreme MAGA politics that are driving voters away. Californians don’t want another rubber stamp in Congress, and Jim Desmond keeps proving that’s exactly who he is.”
Read more:
San Diego Union Tribune: Jim Desmond’s challenge
- All other advantages and disadvantages take a back seat to this one: the Trump effect.
- …Desmond is facing tough “national headwinds.” [UC San Diego political scientist Thad] Kousser said Desmond needs to be “walking a tightrope.”
- …Desmond can’t be “reminding Democrats and independents of his link to the most toxic brand in California today. That’s…Donald Trump.”
- He will have to navigate constantly being tied to Trump and called on to defend the president’s unpopular policies, particularly cuts to medical coverage, food stamps and other programs that have negatively impacted the county he helps govern.
- His support for Trump’s war against Iran and dismissing what he said would be a temporary spike in oil prices as “no pain, no gain” led to plenty of criticism…
San Diego Union Tribune: Top San Diego GOP goals drift farther away as vote count continues
- The conventional wisdom for November is that Democrats overall will be more energized and will have a stronger turnout.
- Desmond [would] likely have to gain even more Democratic crossover votes. As a supervisor with a moderate GOP image, Desmond may have had greater potential to do that.
- But his endorsement by President Donald Trump — a strategically questionable move in a hotly contested purple district — makes that far less likely.
- Desmond will be pressed by von Wilpert and her surrogates to answer for everything Trump: his unpopular agenda of cuts to health care and other programs, erratic and unsuccessful forays in foreign affairs, and actions to contest Democratic votes across the country, to name a few.
- Things can change…but it would folly to suggest Trump’s lowly image in California will improve much by November under any circumstance.
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