Gloom sets in for GOP
Gloom is setting in for GOP lawmakers and strategists who increasingly think Donald Trump will lose the presidential race, and their party will be left in the political wilderness.
“I’m not feeling great about the immediate future of the conservative movement right now,” said one southern lawmaker, a Trump supporter. “As a conservative who believes our ideas are good for America, it is pretty gloomy these days.”
A handful of House GOP lawmakers say they are already bracing for what could be a lopsided Trump defeat this fall. “It’s an uphill battle,” acknowledged retiring Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.), who first endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), then Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and finally Trump after he won the nomination.
“I think it will be Hillary,” predicted a northeastern House GOP lawmaker who is publicly backing Trump. “If I had to bet, I'd definitely ?bet that Trump loses,” said another House GOP lawmaker who is opposed to Trump. “This is like a football game where you hate both teams. You root for a tie — and maybe some minor injuries.”
The southern GOP lawmaker said he’s always believed Trump was a “long shot” due to the demographics of the race. Clinton is trying to build a broad coalition of women, minority, LGBT and youth voters; Trump is appealing to white, working-class voters. “There was some hope that the disaffected, so-called silent majority would be broad enough and turn out in large enough numbers to give Trump a chance,” said the lawmaker. “But if he continues the next 90 days like the last week, then he will lose big time.”
Since his convention in Cleveland, Trump has struggled to get on message for the general election, contending with near-daily defections from establishment Republicans who say the Manhattan billionaire is so dangerous they will either vote for Clinton or write-in someone else’s name.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/291037-gloom-sets-in-for-gop
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