Donald Trump is not hurting the Republican Party (GOP) brand.
Instead, he is promoting himself and advancing the overall GOP strategy for 2016.
Trump has dominated 2016 campaign headlines in recent weeks. The press coverage is mostly aimed at Mr. Trump’s disrespectful comments towards Hispanics and fellow GOP contenders and party officials.
Many of these party actors have publicly condemned Trump’s statements. However, none of the GOP candidates or high-ranking party officials have asked him to drop out of the race.
Why?
My take is that the GOP privately welcomes the added attention Trump is bringing to the party. He is currently atop most national polls among GOP candidates. He is using highly effective media ploys to draw attention to himself and fellow GOP candidates.
I do not think Trump is a serious candidate for the nomination or the general election. Despite his apparent intention to seriously seek the nomination, he may privately understand that his candidacy is not serious. A serious candidate would not have enraged a pivotal bloc of voters in the GOP’s general election strategy.
Trump is running his campaign using his own money. Is he willing to spend maybe $1 billion to run a successful national campaign for president? He is capable of doing so, but I doubt that outcome.
What is more likely is that he is promoting his own profile while inviting mass media attention during the early stages of next year’s campaign.
I think by running a presidential campaign, Donald Trump is giving his contribution to the overall Republican strategy for 2016. The GOP has already publicly distanced itself from Trump. However, the party understands that mass attention comes and goes during the early stages of the election cycle.
The party needed someone to create sustainable mass attention until the process sobers as voting begins. It also needed a way to prove the party’s willingness to lead the immigration reform battle and break with its perceived past attitude towards Hispanics.
In Trump’s campaign the party achieved both strategic outcomes. Trump’s entertaining rhetoric and far-reaching criticisms and jokes keep mass media outlets occupied. His offensive statements regarding Hispanics have unified most of the party against him. Many candidates have taken the opportunity to address immigration reform, which will play a key role in the 2016 elections.
A few top contenders are either naturally or stylistically positioned to contrast with Trump on immigration and Hispanic relations. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are of Hispanic descent and represent states with huge Latino populations. Jeb Bush has a Mexican spouse, speaks fluent Spanish, and is visibly accepting of Hispanic culture.
As for Trump, he has nothing to lose. If his candidacy is unsuccessful, he will have advanced his party’s cause and his name. Mr. Trump will be able to focus again on his business interests.
It is a win-win situation for Donald Trump and for the GOP. His campaign is part of a larger GOP strategy to capture the White House.
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