Clinton aides acknowledge the split between Trump and the business community presents an opportunity to gain allies, winning over Republican-leaning interests or at least persuading them to stay neutral. Clinton, who campaigns Tuesday for the first time with President Barack Obama, used Trump’s response to the “Brexit” vote last month — he cheered Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, which sent markets into turmoil — to argue that Trump is too volatile to play a leading role in the global economy.
Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, who until last year was head of the American Bankers Association, said the Chamber’s public scorn at Trump’s economic vision marked a “very significant” break in the alliance between big business and the GOP.
“It’s certainly counter cultural,” said Keating, a Republican who has not endorsed Trump. The Trump campaign should be particularly weary, Keating added, of the national Chamber’s scorn trickling down to local business groups and leaders.
“The Oklahoma City chamber or the Natchez, Mississippi, or the Albany, New York, chamber, a chamber of commerce in a small town California: If they think what the Republican presidential candidate makes no sense for small business development, I would be very concerned,” Keating said.
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