WaPo: After Alabama loss, Trump has ambitious plans to campaign in 2018 midterms

[Tartarus Sauce]

Honestly, this probably has nothing to do with helping Republicans in their races, and everything to do with Donald Trump enjoying being cheered by crowds more than he enjoys being President. The man loves campaigning so this is not surprising at all.

This. Trump just campaigns to get his daily dose of narcissistic supply.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Go ahead, Trump, Dems will gladly take you campaigning in the 25 Congressional GOP seats that are vulnerable due to the GOP's attempt to repeal Obamacare, Hillary won in.

[Blair]

The issue is that Trump hasn't really worked out how to be a proper surrogate; so far all it's consisted of is a mandering rally where he rants about whatever is currently bothering him, and a blast of tweets where he says 'Democratic Candidate is weak on crime, borders, vets, tax cuts, they're a weak liberal.''

The irony is that in Virginia and Alabama Trump had the exact same tactics as a surrogate.

[Brittain33]

Republicans are doomed whether or not Trump shows up in their neighborhood or not. The opposition is plenty motivated.

[Rookie Yinzer]

God bless President Trump.

[BuckeyeNut]

It'll probably help Republicans in Ohio and Wisconsin. Not sure about Pennsylvania and Michigan.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

Everything Trump touches turns to sh**t. This will obviously hurt congressional republicans and I can see the vulnerable incumbents turning him down.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Everything Trump touches turns to sh**t. This will obviously hurt congressional republicans and I can see the vulnerable incumbents turning him down.

This

Reminds me of how Obama said in 2014 that "My policies are on the ballot", except on steroids. All that did was motivate Republicans and give them ammunition for their attack ads, and Trump will just be a drag on Republicans in 2018.

This gaffe might have doomed Begich and/or Hagan all on its own, hopefully the Trump version of it helps barely save Donnelly and Heitkamp.

[Virginiá]

http://news.gallup.com/poll/214349/trump-averaged-higher-job-approval-states.aspx

Hardcore Trumpists who go to rallies ain't gonna make their votes count even harder. Just subtract about 5 points or so from every state.

It's also worth mentioning that just because Trump may be at 50-53% approval in a state doesn't mean he isn't a liability there. Obama was only at like 45-46% approval with disapproval being the same (so he was basically neutral) in 2010 and Democrats still got blown the hell out across the country. Given the distribution of voters, this has to mean heavy losses even in states where Obama was at least marginally more popular than unpopular - similar to Trump's marginal states as well.

I'd say any state where Trump isn't upper-50s or more is probably a place Trump should stay away from. Which by October 2018 will leave like, maybe a few states at best

[IceSpear]

http://news.gallup.com/poll/214349/trump-averaged-higher-job-approval-states.aspx

Hardcore Trumpists who go to rallies ain't gonna make their votes count even harder. Just subtract about 5 points or so from every state.

It's also worth mentioning that just because Trump may be at 50-53% approval in a state doesn't mean he isn't a liability there. Obama was only at like 45-46% approval with disapproval being the same (so he was basically neutral) in 2010 and Democrats still got blown the hell out across the country. Given the distribution of voters, this has to mean heavy losses even in states where Obama was at least marginally more popular than unpopular - similar to Trump's marginal states as well.

I'd say any state where Trump isn't upper-50s or more is probably a place Trump should stay away from. Which by October 2018 will leave like, maybe a few states at best

West Virginia being one.

[mcmikk]

I imagine it would help rile up the base some, but Trump's overall toxicity would likely hurt the candidate--who will be tied to Trump to some degree--among suburbanites and most voters in general. Net negative or break even.

[Tintrlvr]

Maybe even he's willing to camp out in West Virginia and pretend the rest of the country doesn't exist, this might help Republicans. Otherwise, easily a net negative if Trump is actively involved in the campaign.

[Landslide Lyndon]

He reminds me of W. who campaigned in 2006 in places like Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and rural Georgia.

[choclatechip45]

I’m sure the CT GOP is calling Trump to have him campaign for the governor race since they are so clueless how unpopular Trump is in CT.

[ursulahx]

Help in some areas, hurt in others, surely?

[Brittain33]

Did he help in Baldwin County, Alabama when he campaigned just across the border in Pensacola for Roy Moore?

[Bidenworth2020]

I’m sure the CT GOP is calling Trump to have him campaign for the governor race since they are so clueless how unpopular Trump is in CT.

LMAO

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

Help in some areas, hurt in others, surely?

The only areas this will help in are areas that would have certainly gone Republican anyway - i.e, areas where Trump is popular.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Did he help in Baldwin County, Alabama when he campaigned just across the border in Pensacola for Roy Moore?

Baldwin county was  actually one the places where Jones overperformed the most.