‘Absolutely places he shouldn’t go’: Trump aides pushing 2022 ‘stay away strategy’ behind the scenes
Donald Trump expects to play a major role in next year's midterm elections, but some aides and allies are quietly pushing for him to keep a low profile in some key states.
One aide described a "stay-away strategy" for Trump to stay away from states where his presence might drag down Republican candidates, but allies are aware the twice-impeached one-term president's ego might upend their best-laid plans to keep him from weighing in, reported CNN.
"There are absolutely places he shouldn't go," said one person close to the former president. "I wouldn't put him in Maryland, New Hampshire or Arizona."
Trump has already endorse GOP candidates for state and national races in numerous states -- including Alaska, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Wyoming -- but that puts those Republicans in a tough spot if he wants to take an active role in their campaigns but they'd prefer him to keep his distance.
"They will have to make a strong case, and it can't be, 'I just don't want him around,' because at the end of the day many of these guys are running on his policies," said the person close to Trump. "[It's] a delicate balance that certain candidates are going to have to dance, but the whole point of elections is to be strategic and to win, not to appease a former president."
Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich signaled the former president intends to take an active role in GOP campaigns, no matter what the candidates decide.
"Every Republican in the country knows President Trump's endorsement is key to victory," Budowich said, adding that losing New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli "would have benefitted from a Trump tele-rally the night before Election Day -- instead, he proved Never Trump equals Never Elected."
However, one former Trump official offered an off-the-record warning to Arizona GOP Senate hopeful Blake Masters, who'se looking to unseat Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly.
"If I'm Blake Masters and I know Trump completely turns off suburban women," the ex-official said, "that's going to be a decision where I weigh the pros and cons quite heavily. I may not want him around."
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