Of course Donald Trump takes credit for Virginia

[ad_1]

“I want to thank my BASE for coming out of force and voting for Glenn Youngkin,” Trump said in a statement released by his Save America PAC. “If you don’t, he’s not close to winning.”

He returned to it during an appearance with Virginia-based conservative radio show host John Fredericks. “I’ve heard that Virginia is blue, but I don’t believe it’s blue,” Trump said. “No MAGA, [Youngkin] would have lost 15 points, more … instead of giving us credit, they say, ‘Oh he’s more famous than [Trump]. ‘ “

It’s vintage Trump-always quick to claim credit when things go well and disgusted to blame anything when bad things go wrong.

This is also fundamentally wrong. Youngkin won the race despite Trump, not because of Trump.

Yes, Youngkin accepted Trump’s endorsement of the race. And, no, Youngkin did not actively distance himself from the former President when questioned.

But, make no mistake: Youngkin did everything he could to make the final weeks and months of this career about himself and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, not Trump.

“He’s not coming,” Youngkin told reporters late in the race when asked about the possibility of a Trump rally before Election Day. “In fact, we are campaigning as Virginians in Virginia along with Virginians.” Insisting on why he didn’t invite Trump down the campaign path, Youngkin was blunt: “Because it’s about Virginia.”

While Trump still manages to be a career presence-he calls some sort of tele-townhall events aimed at gathering his most ardent supporters-Youngkin is clearly trying to stay away him as much as he could. while still keeping Trump’s base in the fold.

Compare Trump’s lack of physical presence in the state to whoever in the Democratic establishment campaigned for McAulliffe on the other hand – from President Joe Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris to former President Barack Obama.

Democrats want to nationalize this race. Republicans are not. Youngkin spoke about the Loudoun County school system more than he said about immigration or the national economy or, certainly, Trump.

That’s not to say Trump doesn’t deserve any credit for Youngkin’s win. Republican margins in the more rural parts of the state were no doubt fueled by Trump’s praise of him.

But, Youngkin spent the entirety of the general election trying to make the race except for a referendum on Trump – a smart move given that only 42% of voters in Virginia had a favorable opinion of the former president while 54% looked to him without favor.

Youngkin won by avoiding Trump in his state and at arm’s length in the general election. Trump may claim all the credit he wants for Youngkin’s win but that’s the political reality.

[ad_2]