Trump pivots to general election, in his own unorthodox way
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
MIAMI >> In his own unorthodox way, Donald Trump is unmistakably evolving into a general election candidate.
The over-the-top billionaire is talking about flexibility in his hardline immigration policies. He’s pledging to moderate his bullying tone, acknowledging that women in particular may be turned off by his brash brand of politics. And he’s working to assume the mantle of GOP standard-bearer, calling for party unity and promising to help fellow Republicans win their own elections in November.
“It’s very, very important as a Republican that our senators and congressmen get re-elected,” Trump said Tuesday during a late-night news conference at one of his Florida resorts.
To be sure, Trump is still very much doing things his way. His pledge to help other candidates came just before a lengthy promotion of his brand, all while flanked by tables of Trump wine — as well as bottled water and a display of raw steaks, which he no longer sells. His calls for party unity are still bracketed by jabs at rivals “Little Marco” Rubio and “Lying Ted” Cruz.
But there are clear indications Trump is confident he’ll emerge from the turbulent primaries as the GOP nominee — and that he knows he has work to do to broaden his appeal with general election voters and his own party’s leaders.
Trump’s rivals have one more chance to slow his momentum in next Tuesday’s winner-take-all contests in Florida and Ohio. But unless Trump is slowed in those states, Rubio, Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich will be left with nothing but long-shot options such as a contested convention to block the real estate mogul.
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One party concern about a Trump nomination is that he would cost the GOP both the White House and its Senate majority. In battleground states like Ohio and New Hampshire in particular, Republican senators up for re-election could face constant questions about his policies and personal insults, forcing them to talk more about him than their own campaigns.
In a step toward allaying those worries, Trump has begun signaling to Republican lawmakers that he wants to be their ally, not their burden.
“I would love to see the Republican Party and everybody get together and unify,” he said after a strong showing in last week’s Super Tuesday contests. “And when we unify, there’s nobody, nobody that’s going to beat us.”
Trump has made initial overtures to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, and has endorsements from a handful of U.S. lawmakers and two governors. But his interactions with Republican elected officials appear to have been limited.
“I’ve had my phone on, but nobody’s called,” said Sen. Steve Daines of Montana.
Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson said that while he’s sure a call from Trump will come, it “hasn’t happened yet.”
Following in the footsteps of many presidential nominees, Trump has begun signaling more moderation on policies that are important to general election constituencies, for example Hispanics and women.
Trump rocked the GOP race last summer with his call for building a wall across the entire length of the U.S-Mexico border and for deporting all 11 million people in the country illegally — a position out of step with the party’s stated goal of comprehensive immigration reform.
Now he’s emphasizing the importance of politicians having flexibility on key issues.
“In terms of immigration and almost anything else, there always has to be some tug and pull and deal,” Trump said during the most recent Republican debate.
The businessman has also raised eyebrows with his defense of Planned Parenthood, a frequent target of Republican candidates, saying “millions of women have been helped” by its health clinics. While Trump says the federal government would not fund Planned Parenthood as long as it’s providing abortions, his overall tone when discussing the organization could be more palatable to women, who have made up more than 50 percent of voters in recent presidential elections.
Trump acknowledged in an interview Wednesday on MSNBC that he has work to do with women, given his biting tone throughout the GOP primary.
“In order to be victorious, frankly, I had to be very tough and I had to be very sharp and smart and nasty,” Trump said. “I can see women not liking that. That will change once this is all over.”
To some Republicans skeptical of Trump, his recent moves are less a smart general election play and more a sign that he lacks core principles.
“He is this amorphous political creature who will be whatever he needs to be for voters, whenever they need him to be it,” said Kevin Madden, who advised 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
“This is beyond etch-a-sketch,” Madden added, referring to a critique leveled on Romney when his positions changed. “It’s more like Transformers.”
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Donna Cassata contributed to this report.
27 responses to “Trump pivots to general election, in his own unorthodox way”
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Hasn’t even gotten the nomination and he is already flip-flopping. For the life of me, I cannot imagine what people who support this clown are thinking. Sure the choices aren’t a whole lot better on either side of the aisle, but you have to take a deep breath and look at the potential harm he could do it office.
you have to understand, He’s trying to play both sides of the party line. Yet mind you he has the people’s anger at the forefront. He will build the border, find a solution with the illegal migrants, fix the deficit problems and work on bringing back the jobs!
No matter what he wants to do, he still has to get Congress’ approval. Unless he’s going to pay for a 10 ft or higher wall, 100’s of miles wide, all by himself. No folks, a lot of bluster for show. He’s very flexible and the Democrats love it.
Geez, did Obama need the House ok?
Thinking Americans got Obama elected. How did that work out? Angry Americans (not only Republicans) will get Trump elected.
Did you see the cartoon on the op-ed page in today’s print edition? Flip flopping personified.
Trump is a Deal Maker always mindful of what the anger is with the American Citizen. I don’t see Cruz winning over any Independent or Democrat with the “my way” or hit the road jack type of thinking.
We already see Cruz can’t win with the GOP’s hardliner backers even with the talk of too many wannabes on the list of candidates. That’s all pundit’s talk hating The Donald for whatever reason(s) they have against him.
You’re conflating “deal maker” with “snake oil saleman”. Trump is the latter. Supporters of Trump are the same type of people who bought Snuggies off of the TV. Lazy and guillable.
HIE, hi! hahahahahaha. Go ahead and vote for the Liar Hillary. I can lead a horse to water but I can’t make em drink.
When, having led the horse to water, one confronts the dilemma of the horse refusing to drink, there is a way forward.
Hold the head of the recalcitrant creature underwater, take s u c t i o n on its [redacted] and at least get the mouth wet.
A matter of simple hydraulics.
I could vote for Cruz if he’s the GOP nominee but I have the feeling he can’t garner the Democrats and Independents voters to his election like The Donald could.
Trump has studied history, and knows that the truth is whatever people will believe is the truth. As long as he gets vote, he don’t care what he has to say to get it. The real truth will come out after he gets the GOP nomination though, and by then it will be way to late to do anything about it.
No different than Hillary or for that matter any other politician on both sides of the fence, if history been showing up lately with the GOP. There’s no wonder why Rep. voters are angered. The elected GOP officials didn’t come thru
“by then it will be way to late to do anything about it.” NOT TRUE! VOTE FOR “KERMIT”! Atleast he’s honest about being a “PUPPET”!
..”his own unorthodox way”. “UNORTHODOX” is just what AMERICA needs! As long as it’s WITHIN THE LAW. Atleast TRUMP is “OVERT”, while “HILLARY” remains “COVERT” (as the Psychopath that she is).
Didn’t Trump strongly and adamantly proclaim that he never negotiates? How can he be flexible and “tug and pull and deal” if he never negotiates? Quite amazing that so much of our citizenry buy into his claims. I do understand that people are “angry” at the way things are, but we need to look closely at the substance of what Trump is saying. I’m thinking that the people who find him attractive as a candidate are also ones who watch slick television commercials, then buy the product based on how cool or colorful or hip the commercial is – rather than the qualities of the product itself.
you may misunderstand him. He’ll make deals to get what he wants done! There will be a wall, which has failed to materialize completely, he’ll deal to fix the illegal migrant problem, he’ll deal to get the jobs back to the US. I figure The Donald will not negotiate for anything less than that.
Yes, he’ll make deals to get whatever he wants. Presently, what he wants is to be elected. So despite having arrogantly proclaiming that he never negotiates, now he wants to portray himself as the “unifier”. How can someone who never negotiates be a unifier? Someone who never negotiates is like Republicans who just say “no”, without regard to what the substance is, simply because Obama suggested it. Trump is one or the other. Which one is he?
Elect him and we shall see. You forget what all the Anger in The GOP is, voting and electing the GOP candidates into office to be the majority of both Houses but hey, you don’t see much getting done in what they say they’ll do and I think they are scared bucking the system and losing their elected seats in the next elections. The Donald is new blood, why would one vote for an elected officials who lied thru their teeth they’d do this and that?
Pocho: As with you, I am also disappointed with our current Congress. Still, your argument is to elect Trump simply because he’s new, and because those who have already been elected “lied thru their teeth”. Well, Trump has already lied multiple times and in significant ways, and he hasn’t even been elected yet. “New blood” isn’t better simply because it’s new.
Trump hasn’t lied to me or didn’t do what he said he do like most current Public Officials representing their constituents. We hold them accountable for what they do or don’t we? There lies the Anger in the GOP. These Politicians knows most rules and laws, we need someone who’ll test the line drawn in the sand, like Obama, they did nothin IMO. These Rep.’s just bowed and got run down by opponents. The current GOP has no BackBone in fear of shutting down the Gov. in which to show the very least they don’t approve what the POTUS has done. NO PAIN NO GAIN. and everything stays the same, we need a someone to put his/her foot down to do what is right for our Country and not looking for his/her gain fearing losing one’s seat in elections.
Personally I can not stand Trump however I will vote for him, I have seen, heard and voted for the career politician and I have been mislead every time they tell you what you want to hear and as soon as they get your vote and get elected into office they forget that they are there to serve the people not their selves. With Trump, sure he is telling us everything we want to hear as well however he has such a big ego and that is what will allow him to succeed he can not stand to lose and that is what made him the successful business man he is today and that is what the country needs today a business leader not a self serving politician. He already has all these foreign countries coming out saying how bad he will be for the country, these foreign countries do not care about us they are just worried about having all their free aid that we provide cut. Just like Mexico’s past president he comes out and says were not paying for no fu@#$%g wall well guess what he doesn’t want to see his meal ticket taken away either so yes they will pay for it. Remember Trump is not in it for the money he just wants what every other red blooded american wants, to make AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. (ABC)
Donald Trump…Vladimir Putin…Kim Jung-Un. Scary? Trump is a private citizen, a businessman (a rich one at that). He can say what he wants, how he wants and criticize anyone he wants. He can be discriminatory and a racist. He can do all that and more without consequences he cares about. He has become the pied piper to those who think the government is broken. We all complain about this and that but sometimes forget that we have the freedom to complain about this and that. Will he be the same once elected? He is already waffling on some of his brash statements. I haven’t heard anything of substance during the Republican debates except the candidates insulting one another. Is there any reason to this madness?
Just curious. Has any photojournalist ever taken a picture of him without his mouth being wide open?
Hmmm.. “America Great Again.” Which “again’ are we speaking of? The good old days of the 1840s? Slavery, sedition, the theft of Texas from Mexico? The 1890s? Robber barons, financial depression, the KKK? 1900? Colonial empire building, no vote for women, boisterous militarism? Forget the 1930s. Likewise for the 40s, America was busy surviving. Things weren’t too bad for white America in the 50s but we were hurtling toward a cold war with the collective terror of nuclear annihilation and schools and public accommodations were still segregated. I had fun during the 60s and early 70s but a lot of people didn’t. There’s a wall near the Lincoln Memorial with the names of 53 or so thousands of my friends, countrymen, and relatives.
So, exactly which “Great Again’ are we speaking of? I would guess there are a significant number of America’s first citizens who would offer that we might have to go back to the time before 1620 to be truly “Great Again.”
Who stole Texas? Maybe you mean California. Texas was an independent nation when it became a state.