Trump’s puzzling tactic of merely trying to energize his base supporters without demonstrating a broader strategy to win over more moderate voters, is pushing top Republicans into an even more precarious position. Because the debate wasn’t a total flop, Trump made it harder for them to completely break with his floundering campaign at a time when his drag on the ticket could cost them control of the US Senate, and possibly even the House.
“He basically reminded Republicans of the reasons why he’s their nominee — on Obamacare, judges, and the attacks on Hillary Clinton,” said Lanhee Chen, a Republican strategist and CNN commentator who is also a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. “Those are all things that made Republicans very comfortable. It makes it harder for officeholders and candidates to leave him.”…
Still, there are signs of caution in Clinton’s world. Trump’s decision to hold a pre-debate press conference with women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual impropriety in the past shocked many of Hillary Clinton’s aides. They said the move didn’t intimidate Clinton, but there is an acknowledgment inside Clinton’s campaign that if the wheels completely come off Trump’s operation, the attacks could grow even more personal.
“This was supposed to be his big moment,” Palmieri told reporters. “His threat, he followed through and it had no effect, so I don’t know what he is going to do as an encore.”
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