Trump's "communist" midterm message
· Axios
President Trump needs a potent message to reverse his party's bleak midterm outlook — and he's found it in the rise of democratic socialists in New York and beyond.
Why it matters: In a blistering speech to religious conservatives on Friday, Trump warned that "communists" are taking over the Democratic Party and "they want to completely destroy the traditional American way of life."
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- Afterward, Faith & Freedom Coalition chairman Ralph Reed, a close ally of the president, told reporters that Trump's words were intentional and had the makings of a Republican message for the midterms.
The big picture: Trump spent much of his speech at the coalition's annual "Road to Majority" conference railing against the far-left victories.
- He joked that he'd be the "greatest communist in history" — by giving everyone free rent, free food, free everything. "The problem is, after two or three years the country is a disaster area," Trump said.
- "The Democrat Party is in big trouble, because this isn't stopping with New York," he went on. "This is the most serious threat to our country in its existence, in my opinion."
Reality check: Reed, a seasoned political operator going back to the 1990s, was blunt about the GOP's prospects in the election even as he praised Trump's performance.
- The enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans, he said, is 11 to 14 points. "Anything above 10 points is a 3-alarm fire," he said.
- "That's the bad news. The good news is it's June," Reed added. "If we do our job and [voters] understand there's a contrast between common sense and crazy, it will definitely change these numbers."
The bottom line: A referendum on Trump is a losing proposition for Republicans. They know they need to make it a choice.