‘Remembered’: Trump’s allies crossed over to him in the special election

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Meadows and Paul’s allies insist they do not intend to discredit the former president by backing Edmonds and Hood and are only voicing their support for the candidates, rather than opposing a Trump-promoted hope .

But the turn of events underscores the difficult dealing with Republicans. By picking Trump favorites in the primaries and seeking to shape the party before the potential 2024 comeback bid, he is forcing other Republicans to decide if it’s worth crossing him over the endorsement of rival candidates.

Organizations endorsing candidates versus endorsing presidents are doing so at their own risk and, like Democrats, will fail, said former Trump manager Corey Lewandowski, a prominent Carey supporter. But remember it.

Representatives for Trump and Paul declined to comment. Debbie Meadows, whose organization has supported conservative female candidates such as Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) And Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Said in a statement: Our job at the Right Women PAC is to find the most conservative, pro-Trump women, even among field with a lot of pro-Trump candidates and that’s what we did here. It’s certainly not a ‘us vs. them.’ I fully support President Trump and always have.

Those in the orbit of the presidents were surprised to see Meadows and Paul ruining for the other candidates given their closeness to Trump. Trump won praise at Meadows in an appearance in June in North Carolina, noting that during the 2016 presidential career he was a supporter of mine even before his wife. Trump earlier this year endorsed Pauls 2022 reelection bid, saying his golfing partner has done an amazing job for our Country, and for the incredible people of Kentucky.

People familiar with Debbie Meadows ’group say it is independently run by Mark Meadows, which has yet to come out in support of any career candidate. They also pointed out that his endorsement of Edmonds came on June 4, four days before Trump announced his support for Carey.

However, the Meadows Right Women PAC has continued to launch Edmonds since Trump moved, emphasizing its support for her on social media platforms including Instagram and Telegram. Meanwhile, Paul announced his support for Hood in early July, weeks after Trump came out for Carey.

This isn’t the first time Paul has parted ways with the former president: In the 2020 election, he came out in support of Tennessee Republican Senate candidate Manny Sethi about the now Trump-backed winner, Sen. Bill Hagerty. The Paul-aligned Protect Freedom PAC also made an unsuccessful effort last year to defeat Texas Rep. To Granger, who was supported by Trump.

Some Trump aides have particularly ranked Meadows, complaining that he is lining up against the former president despite his former acceptance of the candidates he is urging to return. She recently helped arrange for him to meet with congressional candidate Heidi St. John of Washington State, though some prominent Trump supporters have begun to move toward other Republicans running against Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler: Army veteran Joe Kent (Herrera Beutler was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the riots at the Capitol on Jan. 6.) The meeting in St. Louis. John got eyerolls from some of the circle’s former presidents.

Meadows was also instrumental in persuading Trump to endorse one of his personal friends, Lynda Bennett, in last year’s election to fill his wives vacancy in the North Carolina congressional seat. Bennett suffered a lopsided major defeat to Rep. Madison Cawthorn, enraged Trump, who up to that point had often bragged about her perfect record of endorsing the winning major candidates in 2020. The former president has repeatedly held out to Mark Meadows the loss, and he continued to express regret privately for not endorsing Cawthorn, who emerged as a staunch ally.

To some, Debbie Meadows ’support for Edmonds is just the latest sticking point.

I’m surprised that Trumps wife former chief of staff doesn’t support Trump-endorsed candidate, Mike Carey. Loyalty seems to be a very important staff trait in Trump’s orbit, said Brian Darling, a former official at the Heritage Foundation, a well -known conservative organization.

Darling, a former Paul aide, recognizes Pauls Hood’s endorsement from Meadows ’support for Edmonds, noting that the Kentucky senator is narrowly committed to backing a similar libertarian candidate.

Those close to Meadows, who have been a major force in her husband’s political uprising, are already being forced by persuading Trump to support certain candidates, he is doing nothing out of the ordinary. Trump has lobbied a range of people behind the Republican -dependent, they pointed out.

Carey remains a strong favorite in mainstream London, race observers said. A June poll conducted by the Careys campaign found him far ahead of the other 10 Republicans running. Carey made Trump’s endorsement a major part of his campaign, running ads that drew attention to the former president praising him as a wonderful man he had known for a long time at a recent rally in Ohio. Trump called the candidate on stage to speak during the event.

But the involvement of Meadows and Pauls could be a factor in the final stretch, those involved in the race said. According to media tracking figures, Carey spent and reserved only $ 171,000 on radio and TV airwaves, less than some of his rivals. In comparison, the organization aligned with Paul, Protect Freedom PAC, set aside $ 216,000 in advertising time to boost Hood.

The Meadows-run group, Right Women PAC, has not yet invested in ads, though there is speculation that it might. A Republican in the state noted that the extra PAC recently received a $ 1 million-plus contribution from Ohio-based donor Brenda Frecka, a large gift imaginable that could be used to fund a last-minute, pro- Edmonds barrage. Frecka and her husband, founder of film packaging company David Frecka, were among the largest donors to a super PAC lined up in the conservative House Freedom Caucus, led by Mark Meadows while he was in congressional tenure. .

Neither Debbie Meadows nor David Frecka would comment when asked if the contribution would be used to strengthen Edmonds. Meadows also would not say what activities he plans for the final week of the tournament.

Carey is also facing an avalanche of spending from former Rep. Steve Stivers the GOP, who vacated the seat to take a management job at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Stivers spent nearly $ 300,000 in remaining funds from his campaign account to kill another candidate, Rep. States. Jeff LaRe.

However, the pro-Trump cavalry may come to the rescue. Lewandowski-run Make America Great Again Action, the principal pro-Trump super PAC, is considering parachuting to close the spending gap. It represents the organizations that are first investing in an election.

Whoever comes out early in the Republican primary is expected to win the general election, given that Trump comfortably won the conservative -leaning district in 2020.

While Carey did not win the support of Meadows and Paul, he did garner endorsements from other strong Trump allies, including New York Reps. Elise Stefanik and Citizens United, a group overseen by former Trump campaign adviser David Bossie. He also has the endorsement of a political action committee headed by Ryan Zinke, who served as Trumps Interior secretary.

Carey removes Meadows ’support and gives Paul to his rivals by highlighting his backing from other people.

Proud, he said in a text message, to have President Trumps endorsement.

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