WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump is giving his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to several Republican allies, including three from Arkansas, but he is warning others in the party not to use his name or image without his permission.
This week, the former president declared his support for US Senator John Boozman of Rogers, writing: “Senator John Boozman is a great fighter for the people of Arkansas. He is tough on crime, strong on the border, a great defender of our military and our veterinarians, and struggles for our farmers every day. He supports our second amendment and has my complete and total endorsement! “
On Friday, Trump supported Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin’s candidacy for the state’s attorney general, calling him “a highly respected army veteran who will always fight for the great people of Arkansas.”
On January 25, he supported former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, stating that Sanders “is a warrior who will always fight for the people of Arkansas and do what is right, not what is politically correct. “.
University of Arkansas political science professor Janine Parry said the endorsements will help candidates raise funds, while discouraging other Republicans from entering the race.
“These Republicans are showing that they use the right brand,” she said.
In a Republican primary, “it’s Trump, Trump, Trump, 24/7,” said Parry. “If you are not on that train, it will be very difficult to win votes.”
Given the Republican inclination of Arkansas, “all that matters is the primary, so this is valuable,” she said.
Despite losing the White House in November, Trump continues to have a loyal base in the Natural State.
The 45th president obtained 97.1% of the votes in the 2020 Republican presidential primaries and 62.4% of the votes against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
“The people I hear about still admire President Trump a lot. They think he was perhaps the best president we’ve ever had [and] has accomplished more than any other president in our lives, “said Arkansas Republican Party President Jonelle Fulmer.
Trump’s support is useful in Arkansas, “especially as soon as it comes out of the box,” she said.
While Trump’s support helps, it’s a long time between now and 2022, she noted.
“There will be a lot of work in the primary campaigns and the general campaign. In the end, the endorsement is no longer a novelty, ”she said.
Ultimately, she said, “grassroots campaigns are going to be worth it.”
Hal Bass, an emeritus professor of political science at Ouachita Baptist University, predicted that Trump’s endorsement “would work very well with Republican voters in the Arkansas primary.”
“Right now, [Trump is] certainly the most respected figure in the national Republican Party, and seems eager to assert his post-presidential party leadership in a very aggressive and aggressive way, “said Bass.
Arkansas Democratic Party chairman Michael John Gray said Trump’s endorsements show that Republican candidates will “divide people along dividing lines and fan the division’s flames.”
“I think if you want to be the Arkansas state senator or the governor or attorney general of the state of Arkansas, you should be able to introduce yourself and talk about what you want to do for the Arkansans instead of falling in line and trying to ride a president’s coat twice impeachment, “said Gray.
Trump’s recent endorsement came when he was distancing himself from some of the party’s traditional fundraising devices.
On Friday, his lawyers sent cease and desist letters to the National Republican Committee, the National Republican Congress Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, objecting to some of their fundraising practices.
In a written statement on Tuesday, he doubled over, saying that donations to his own political action committee will not be used to support Republicans in name only.
“I fully support the Republican Party and major Republican committees, but I do not support RINOs and fools, and it is not their right to use my image or image to raise funds. A lot of money is being raised and completely wasted by people who do not have the best. GOP interests in mind, “he said. “If you donate to our Save America PAC at DonaldJTrump.com, you are helping the America First movement and doing it right. WE WIN and WIN A LOT! Our country is being destroyed by Democrats!”
Boozman, who formally announced his candidacy for re-election over the weekend, was not available on Tuesday to discuss Trump’s endorsement, said spokesman Matthew Wester.
But in a written note, the senator highlighted his work with the previous government.
“President Trump and I work together to grow the economy, protect the border, defend the Second Amendment and protect life. Together we rebuild the military, defend our veterans, help farmers in difficult times and reshape the judiciary,” said Boozman .
“I am proud of this record and grateful for the support of the president,” added Boozman.
In a text message, Sanders portrayed Trump’s support as useful.
“President Trump remains the most influential voice in Republican politics and I thank him for his continued trust in me and support for strong conservative leaders in Arkansas,” she wrote.
In a written statement, Griffin expressed his thanks for the endorsement.
“I am honored to have President Trump’s support in the race for attorney general. I admire his determination to keep his promises to implement conservative policies, especially to appoint judges who understand that his role is to interpret the law, not to make it,” he said.
Since leaving office on January 20, Trump has offered his support to several other Republicans.
US Senators John Kennedy of Louisiana, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Jerry Moran of Kansas and Mike Crapo of Idaho received Trump’s support after voting to absolve him of inciting the insurrection.
The former president also endorsed Bob Paduchik’s successful campaign for president of the Republican party in Ohio; Former White House adviser Max Miller ran against US pro-impeachment deputy Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio; and Henry McMaster’s offer for another term as governor of South Carolina.
University of South Carolina professor of political science Robert Oldendick said the announcement was “a very positive thing for Governor McMaster”.
“We know from polls and from his performance in November that Donald Trump is very much appreciated here. He is very popular. An endorsement of him will really be useful,” said Oldendick.
With Trump at his side, “it makes it look like McMaster must have a pretty easy road to victory,” he added.
Markie McBrayer, professor of political science at the University of Idaho, said the endorsement was good news for Crapo, lessening the chances that he would face a primary challenge from the right.
Asked whether Trump’s support makes Crapo’s re-election path more smoothly, McBrayer said, “It makes him more secure.”