In GOP primaries, Trump can hurt someone, but can he help?
By Reid Wilson - 06/13/18 02:50 PM EDT
Just three years after reinventing himself as a pugilistic populist, President Trump has proven remarkably adept at ridding the Republican Party of far more experienced politicians who offer anything short of complete fealty.
But Trump has proven less effective at refashioning the GOP by electing like-minded candidates. He has struggled, at times, to transfer the fervor of his most ardent supporters to those candidates he publicly endorses.
In the words of one GOP strategist, who asked for anonymity for fear of alienating the White House, Trump is good at breaking things. He's not as good at building them back up.
"Voters on our side have hired him to be a mercenary to battle their enemies. Therefore, he is most effective when he identifies opponents of the cause. That's his skill set," said Brad Todd, a GOP strategist and co-author of The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/392098-in-gop-primaries-trump-can-hurt-someone-but-can-he-help
