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November 08, 2018 12:19 PM UTC

Cory Gardner’s NRSC Director: “We’re Running With President Trump No Matter What”

  • 17 Comments
  • by: Erik Maulbetsch

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Sen. Gardner and Trump on Air Force One

U.S. Senator Cory Gardner’s political operation is full steam ahead on the Trump train.

Celebrating the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s success in the mid-term elections, NRSC Executive Director Chris Hansen, who’s served as Gardner’s right-hand man since 2010, told Politico,

“We have always felt like we’re running with President Trump no matter what. We think he’s a huge asset, to be clear. These rallies are not by mistake.”

Coloradans rarely hear such unapologetic devotion to Trump “no matter what” from the Gardner camp. When speaking to local media outlets, the Senator usually tempers his support of the President. Even when he’s praising Trump he makes sure to add a caveat, as he did during an election day radio interview:

“I think there are elements of the radical left who are going to oppose President Trump, no matter how good it is for this country. There are obviously things that we’re going to agree with and disagree with the president on. But the economy is creating jobs… Wages are going up. This is incredible.”

Yet for a national political audience, Gardner’s team is embracing Trump without reservation. The NRSC’s enthusiasm is understandable. As Politico reported, they owe him:

“Trump’s personal investment in the Senate sealed the deal.  He crisscrossed the country, hitting some states multiple times — all the while delivering sound bites that Republican hopefuls used to promote themselves and bash their opponents.”

Sen. Cory Gardner, Chris Hansen and Sen. Mitch McConnell celebrate election night with others at NRSC headquarters. 
Sen. Cory Gardner, Chris Hansen and Sen. Mitch McConnell celebrate election night with others at NRSC headquarters.

That’s fine for election night, but as eyes turn to Gardner’s own re-election here in Colorado, Trump is no longer a “huge asset,” but rather a massive liability. John Frank of the Colorado Sun examined this issue yesterday and found several political strategists in agreement:

“More than anything, the 2020 election is about Trump
And that’s not what Gardner wants to talk about.

‘I think his entire campaign hinges on Donald Trump,’ said Steve Welchert, a Democratic strategist. ‘If Donald Trump runs for re-election and (Gardner) has to campaign with Donald Trump and respond to what Donald Trump says every day, that’s a (expletive) nightmare.'”

Trump’s personality may have pulled Gardner’s team across the finish line, but the cost of hitching himself to the Presidential horse is starting to be clear.

 

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17 thoughts on “Cory Gardner’s NRSC Director: “We’re Running With President Trump No Matter What””

  1. There has been some discussion here about relatively moderate Republicans getting purged in this election cycle, whether truly moderate on some issues, or playing moderate due to the area they represent being a lot bluer than Republicans typically represent. 

    I think Mike Coffman is a little of both and I think Cory Gardner is firmly in the latter camp.  Occasionally throwing bones to Colorado issues, but, otherwise a tool for Mitch McConnell, Trump and Corporate interests.  Either way, Republicans need to clean up their own house if they want us to differentiate between the good ones and the bad ones. 

    At any rate, Gardner throws his lot in with bad faith actors like Mitch McConnell and bigots like Donald Trump.  For that, he should be held to account for the next 2 years and thrown out on his ass in 2020. 

    He may be all smiles now, but by then, I want his face to look like this:

    1. I have a hunch he has his post-Senate sights set a little higher than Yuma and playing bridge with my gang! (maybe we can lure him back with poker night and a little Woodford Willie's Reserve!) 

  3. Magellan Strategies summary du jour, comparing vote totals in midterm elections: 

    2018 PERCENTAGE OF VOTE: R = 31.9% , D = 32.6% , U = 35.5%
    2014 PERCENTAGE OF VOTE: R = 37.3% , D = 32.0% , U = 30.7% (AT SAME POINT)

    the Presidential Election equivalents

    2016 PERCENTAGE OF VOTE: R = 33.7% , D = 32.6% , U = 31.9%
    2012 PERCENTAGE OF VOTE: R = 34.6% , D = 32.9% , U = 31.3%

    Flaherty projected a bit:  "What do you think 2020 is going to look like when 800K more voters participate? 36% Dem / 36% unaf / 28% Rep?"

    My guess would be Dems stay about the same 32-33%; Us jump up 2-3%; and Rs go down 2-3%, taking them down to 30% or so.

  5. Much will depend on who the Dems nominate. Also a big factor will be if the economy heads into recession or close in the next 18 months. Economy looks good now. But Trump tariff- induced inflation is definitely lurking in the weeds.

    1. Much will depend on who the Dems nominate.

      Very true.  You can't beat somebody with nobody. 

      As far as the tariff issue, some farmers are already starting to feel the pain.  I am curious, and concerned, as to how this will play out.

      1. I'm at a national farm conference today in Kansas City today and there is a LOT of grumbling about the 'Trump Tariffs'.  Predictions that if this goes beyond another crop year there will be a round of significant consolidation in the countryside.  

      2. The farmers will be told – and enough will believe – that is Hillary and Obama's fault and that Trump/Gardner are doing what they can to fix the yuge and bigley problem.

    2. Bet it won't be a Dan Maes.  Dems like Perlmutter have to be liking their chances against Con Man Cory.  One can only wish that Gardner is a full on Trumper but history says the little snake with slither around pretending he is undecided.  If 2018 is any indication,  voters aren't going to fall for that phony persona this time around.

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