The Note: Trumpism and Tuesday's primaries

By
Rick Klein
 and
MaryAlice Parks
May 8, 2018, 5:53 AM ET
9 min read

The TAKE with Rick Klein

Trumpism may yet again overwhelm even President Donald Trump.

Tuesday’s primaries -- scattered across four states Trump carried in 2016, all but one of which Barack Obama carried at least once – have proven to be fertile ground for tactics that Trump rode to the presidency.

The president’s last-minute attempt to spike the candidacy of Don Blankenship in West Virginia might suggest a lesson learned the hard way, in Alabama late last year.

But as Blankenship promises to be “Trumpier than Trump,” he’s a threat to win the GOP Senate nomination in large part because of anger and resentment directed at the federal government and the Republican establishment.

Blankenship, a multi-millionaire who is still on probation for his conviction for conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards, is closing out his campaign spinning conspiracy theories about the disaster that led to his imprisonment. He’s also hurling racially-tinged accusations at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s family, and even lashing out at Trump – in addition to Obama and Hillary Clinton.

In Indiana, Mike Braun is no Blankenship – not even close. But the self-funding businessman broke through in the Senate primary with an ad that featured himself lugging around cardboard cutouts of the two House members he’s running against. He’s pointing out their similar resumes and even sartorial styles: “That’s how you dress in the swamp,” a voter says in the ad.

The early rounds of primaries have been bruising displays of intra-party warfare. But not much has happened that the GOP shouldn’t have expected in the era of Trump.

The RUNDOWN with MaryAlice Parks

Democrats lost a lot of sleep in the winter of 2016 over the election results in the four states with primary contests today.

The heartland. Appalachia. The middle of the country. Coal country. White working class voters. Union strong-holds. Democrats knew then and know now that any potential roadmap to retaking a majority in the House, holding Senate seats or winning a future presidential election would depend on making serious inroads (or at least not losing any more ground) with core constituencies in these states. These are problem areas for the party and Democrats have tried to problem-solve.

Democratic turnout and engagement today will give the national party more than just insights on a few key races for November. The numbers could show them what kind of messaging and which types of candidates are working, or not, as they try to rebuild and refortify in communities that swung to the right in these states over the last few years.

Maybe the answer is someone like Rich Ojeda, a rough-and-tumble, tattooed, former Marine who voted for President Trump, but is running as a populist Democrat in southern West Virginia. Maybe the answer is a familiar face, like former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, who has thrown his name in the Ohio governor’s race and pushed single-payer health care and a ban on assault weapons. Maybe anti-Trump fervor is enough to lift up all guys and gals with D by their names.

The TIP with Meridith McGraw

Don Blankenship is taking a page from President Donald Trump’s 2016 political playbook as he takes on both Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ahead of the West Virginia primary.

After Trump urged Republicans in West Virginia to vote for one of the other two GOP candidates, Blankenship went on to say the president’s been “misinformed” and said Trump needs to work on being “civil.”

"He's the most powerful man in the world and being a little bit more civil in the things that he said would be more beneficial," said Blankenship. "But, he has related well and gained the confidence of blue collar workers in this country and he has the right ideas. None of us are perfect and the president's not perfect."

When asked by ABC if his comments calling McConnell are “civil,” Blankenship went on the defense.

"If someone punches you in the face and you don’t punch them back they’ll punch you again. You notice Mitch McConnell’s not said much," Blankenship said. It’s a strategy Trump would likely agree with.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • President Trump is expected to meet with members of Congress at 11:15 a.m. and have lunch with Vice President Pence and Secretary of State Pompeo at 12:30 p.m.
  • The President is expected to announce his decision on the Iran nuclear deal at 2 p.m.
  • The President is expected to address the Federal Judges Association at 5 p.m.
  • Polls are open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. in Indiana, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Ohio, and 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. in North Carolina and West Virginia.
  • WATCH LIVE TONIGHT: You can watch livestreaming coverage of all the primary action starting at 7 p.m. ET on ABCNews.com or on the ABC News app available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Apple TV App Store, and Roku Channel Store. Don’t forget to sign up for Midterm Elections Alerts to get more coverage of this year’s election season from our powerhouse politics team.

    • QUOTE OF THE DAY

    "We all really like President Trump's policies but we know he always doesn't get things right. He recommended that people vote for a guy that was basically accused of pedophilia in Alabama." – Republican Senate candidate Don Blankenship referring to Trump's past endorsement of Roy Moore. Trump has endorsed Blankenship's rivals in tonight's primary election in West Virginia.

    NEED TO READ

    What can Tuesday night's primaries tell us about the midterms? The candidates that emerge Tuesday night from bruising and expensive primary battles in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia will provide answers to key questions about races crucial to determining which parties will control the U.S. House and Senate after November. (John Verhovek) https://abcn.ws/2Ikf3Ty

    Don Blankenship has a shot at winning on Tuesday, GOP sources tell ABC News. Controversial Republican Senate candidate Don Blankenship has mounted a competitive bid in the state of West Virginia ahead of the highly anticipated Tuesday night primary, national and state Republican operative sources tell ABC News. (Meridith McGraw) https://abcn.ws/2InPUHo

    In Ohio’s gubernatorial primary, Democrats make a hard tilt to the left. In the middle of the country, in a moderate, swing-state, Democratic voters have an active, vibrant primary on their hands. (MaryAlice Parks) https://abcn.ws/2jE4igC

    In Indiana Senate Primary, a Republican fight over who is the Trumpiest of Trump supporters. In Indiana, a state that’s known for its “Hoosier hospitality”, one of the nation’s most bitter and personal primaries is coming to a head today. The Republican Senate primary field includes two sitting congressmen and one millionaire business owner who are duking it out for the chance to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in November. (Alisa Wiersema) https://abcn.ws/2HZ4R3u

    West Virginia House candidate ‘got tired of watching’ opioid crisis ravage communities. Ayne Amjad works at the nexus of the opioid crisis and environmental hazards which residents say have caused their friends and neighbors to develop cancer. Amjad is one of seven Republicans running for the U.S. House seat held by Rep. Evan Jenkins in the primary election on Tuesday. (Stephanie Ebbs) https://abcn.ws/2jIP5ed

    Four key questions about Trump’s Iran deal decision. After months of negotiations and sharp warnings, this week is a pivotal moment for the future of the Iran nuclear agreement as President Donald Trump faces a critical self-imposed deadline. (Conor Finnegan) https://abcn.ws/2K59rd9

    First woman nominated to head CIA faces tough confirmation hearing. After a career spent in the deep shadows, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the CIA steps into the harshest of spotlights this week – a Senate confirmation hearing likely to focus on her record on torture. (Luis Martinez and Steve Turnham) https://abcn.ws/2Im4Q8Q

    Trump vents over Russia probe, teases 'unrevealed Conflicts of Interest' among investigators. After a Twitter-free weekend, President Trump unleashed a tweetstorm this morning, taking aim at special counsel Robert Mueller with “just wait ‘till the Courts get to see your unrevealed Conflicts of Interest!” (Alexander Mallin and Paola Chavez) https://abcn.ws/2KGSs1O

    Oliver North, key figure in Iran-Contra affair, to head the NRA Outgoing NRA President Pete Brownell, who decided not to seek re-election, said in the statement that North is the right leader for the organization in what he called "these extraordinary times." (Matt Seyler) https://abcn.ws/2KLt8Yu

    First lady Melania Trump rolls out policy platform, focus on children. First lady Melania Trump officially unveiled her "Be Best" children-focused policy platform in the White House Rose Garden Monday, with President Donald Trump watching and applauding from the audience. (Jordyn Phelps) https://abcn.ws/2IjaSHp

    The Atlantic reports on how appearing "establishment" has become a liability in GOP primary races. https://theatln.tc/2rs2WZR

    FiveThirtyEight analyzes whether Don Blankenship's apparent surge in West Virginia is legitimate. https://53eig.ht/2wse9PQ

    The New Yorker reports Eric Schneiderman, New York’s attorney general, has raised his profile as a voice against sexual misconduct. Now, after suing Harvey Weinstein, he faces a#MeToo reckoning of his own. Four women accuse New York’s attorney general of physical abuse. https://bit.ly/2HWSrcf

    Accused of Abuse, Eric Schneiderman resigns as New York attorney general on Monday night hours after The New Yorker reported that four women had accused him of physically assaulting them, according to the New York Times. https://nyti.ms/2K49GVD

    The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the key political moments of the day ahead. Please check back tomorrow for the latest.