Bad Night for Trump Sets the Stage for More GOP Infighting

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON — Trumpism took a beating.

Now, President Donald Trump, former White House strategist Steve Bannon and their allies are racing to rescue it from the ashes of Republican Ed Gillespie's resounding defeat in Tuesday's Virginia gubernatorial election and GOP losses in dozens of down-ballot contests across several states.

They contend that Virginia voters spurned a consummate Washington insider — not the president's brand of politics — even though a massive turnout surge in Democratic strongholds suggests there was little Gillespie could have done to overcome the anti-Trump wave.

"Republican Swamp Thing Gillespie Rejected," Bannon's Breitbart News declared in a headline.

Gillespie "did not embrace me or what I stand for," Trump tweeted from Asia.

The rush to destroy Gillespie — who borrowed some tactics from Trump but kept his distance from the president — points to an escalating fight within the party over whether candidates are better off courting Trump and his loyal base or keeping them at arm's length.

After Gillespie failed to strike a balance between the two, he took criticism for it.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/bad-night-for-trump-sets-the-stage-for-more-gop-infighting/ar-BBEJhFY?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=edgsp

[underpants]

1. Okay then explain the Dem wins throughout eastern corridor

and the pick up in the gerrymandered district in Blacksburg.

[lagomorph777]

3. Gillespie energized Dems with his brazenly false and viciously racist ads.

He didn't even seem smart enough to select receptive markets for them.

However, Dems totally outplayed the RePutins ground game. Our hardworking grassroots busted ass and ran people EVERYWHERE. I think that made a gigantic difference.

[underpants]

4. Thank you.

I posted yesterday about friends in Newport News and Williamsburg getting door knocks yesterday.

His ads were just horrible and fake ( as I'm sure you know). When Northam returned serve, after months of not really going negative, with a mailer of all things Gillespie went into full victim mode.

The one that I found so out of place was the NRA ad that ran after Vegas but was impossible to miss even after Texas. "I've got a D minus rating (from the NRA). WRONG! It's an F!!!"

Did they think that helped? I think it help Northam especially with the "soccer moms".

[lagomorph777]

5. I had Dems on my doorstep at least half a dozen times.

Totally unnecessary in my case, but greatly appreciated, and I told them so.

Wish I could do that too, but family medical issues make that impossible.

[underpants]

7. I've gotten lazy and sat this one out

Obviously they didn't need me.

Next year I'm going to be at a Kaine office early and often.

[Phoenix61]

2. Cool

Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of folks.

[Gothmog]

6. This will be fun to watch

[gratuitous]

8. Rooting for casualties

While popping up a big ol' batch.