Donald Trump attacks NM Gov Susana Martinez, angers establishment AGAIN
Donald Trump may have become the eventual GOP nominee for the 2016 presidential race, but his attacks on New Mexico’s Republican Gov. Susana Martinez shows that the Celebrity Apprentice host doesn’t care about uniting the party or giving “party stars” a pass. At a rally in Albuquerque, Trump attacked Martinez for the state’s economic troubles and the rising number of residents on food stamps.
“It’s your governor’s fault,” Trump told the crowd of thousands. “She’s not doing the job.”
Trump supporters defended the remarks, arguing they demonstrated the candidate’s ability to stand up to colleagues to get the job done.
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“Trump was sending a message to her and to other Republican elected officials around America that this is what you come in for if you part ways,” says Joe Monahan, an Albuquerque political blogger. “There has been a bevy of economic problems in this state that have not received a lot of attention, and Trump put it on her lap, front and center.”
“The governor will not be bullied into supporting a candidate,” her press secretary said in response to Trump’s remarks. “Governor Martinez doesn’t care about what Donald Trump says about her.”
Trump continues to ramble off talking points, staying on his message of the day and not turning his attention as GOP establishment gurus think he should: at Hillary Clinton.
“In addition to highlighting divisions in the party, it’s simply a distraction from the main target, which is Hillary Clinton and her record,” says Republican Strategist Ryan Williams, who worked on Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.
“If you’re going to attack, the only names you use are Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama,” says Republican strategist Henry Barbour.
“Both sides need to demonstrate more discipline,” Barbour said of Trump and elected Republicans. “The voters have spoken very plainly in our primary, and Trump is our nominee. And if we want to keep Hillary Clinton from winning the White House, then we need to coalesce behind the nominee.”
photo/ donkeyhotey
