Republicans are hopeful that potential charges against former Pres. Trump will not wreak havoc on down-ballot races next year but are warning of dour consequences should candidates mishandle an unprecedented indictment.
March 30, 2023, 6:17 PMFormer President Donald Trump speaks during a 2024 election campaign rally in Waco, Texas, March 25, 2023.At a Republican retreat earlier this month, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy grew frustrated with repeated questions -- not about policy or the party but about"We're not talking about this in our conference; you're asking about it," McCarthy insisted after reporters pressed for answers to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's probe.
While Republicans maintain they hope charges against Trump -- who denies all wrongdoing in the investigations he faces -- will not cast too deep or dark a shadow over other politicians, they are warning of primary and general election consequences should candidates not thread the metaphorical needle on what would be an unprecedented issue.
Seven Republican strategists and pollsters said a practiced and effective pivot away from the expected flood of inquiries could help inoculate candidates from getting bogged down in an issue that doesn't directly have an impact their campaigns, with some proposing tying charges to concerns over violent crime and "cancel culture," issues that have animated the GOP base.
"You will have candidates saying Trump is getting a raw deal. That's different than releasing lengthy statements and doing interviews, basically becoming his surrogates," the strategist with experience on Senate campaigns said. "I think that you'll have a bunch of Republican candidates basically say, 'I'd refer you to his team for the details. It seems like a raw deal to me. Let's talk about my message.
But getting mired in the details of Trump's conduct Daniels -- if the indictment involves that -- could also alienate swing voters.
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