Republican strategist Doug Heye on Monday criticized President Trump for not channeling more of his super PAC's resources into competitive GOP campaigns, as the party braces for a difficult midterm election cycle.
Heye, a former communications director for the Republican National Committee, told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that the party's chances of holding Congress are "bleak," in part because of the funding gap. He likened Trump's approach to his old reality TV show, saying, "Donald wants to spend money on himself. He doesn't want to give things away, and he wants Republicans to earn it."
The Atlantic recently reported that Trump has resisted pressure from GOP strategists and leaders to divert more money from his super PAC, MAGA Inc., into House and Senate races. Instead, he has focused on airing television ads that boost his own image.
The president is scheduled to join other Republican leaders at the RNC's first-ever midterm convention in Dallas this week. The two-day event, starting Wednesday, is meant to energize the base ahead of November. Heye said it remains to be seen whether the convention changes Trump's approach: "We'll see how some of that, if any of that, changes ultimately in Dallas this week."
Heye also took aim at Trump's messaging, noting that the president tells voters "we've never been hotter or richer," but many Americans don't feel that way. He pointed to Trump's approval rating, which stood at 33 percent in a late-August Reuters/Ipsos poll. Heye recalled that during his RNC tenure, the "magic number" for President Obama was 46 percent approval, below which Republicans could realistically retake the House.
"Donald Trump is nowhere near that now," Heye said. "The maps are completely different now with redistricting by Democrats and Republicans, so you don't have a 63-seat pickup opportunity, but Republicans know that their back is against the wall."
Nonpartisan election analyst Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) currently gives Democrats a 68 percent chance of winning the House. The Senate race is tighter, with a 50/50 split in the probability of each party taking the majority.
The criticism comes amid broader GOP tensions over campaign strategy, as some Senate Republicans have publicly split over Trump's convention plans. Meanwhile, Trump's focus on his own political brand has raised concerns among party operatives who worry about the impact on down-ballot races.
