Analysis: Donald Trump's campaign shows signs of structural weakness
Donald Trump and his senior political advisers are becoming increasingly estranged as the general election kicks off in earnest. One example -- Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort is no longer trying to steer the Republican nominee off harmful or controversial topics, and is now just trying to focus on the mechanics of the campaign.
Manafort isn't exactly hiding this either. "The candidate is in control of his campaign," he told Fox News. "That's number one. And I'm in control of doing the things he wants me to do in the campaign."
The lack of guidance on messaging is showing. In a single day, Tuesday, Trump said he's "not there yet" on endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan; he attacked John McCain for not doing enough for veterans; he said he regrets not serving in Vietnam and accepted the gift of a Purple Heart from a veteran, saying, "I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier;" he suggested the election was rigged and complained he had been "viciously attacked" by the Khan family; and he was forced to address a baby's crying during his rally.
The dissonance between Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, is also increasing. On Wednesday, Pence complimented McCain and show and gave Ryan a hearty endorsement during an interview with Fox News. "I strongly support Paul Ryan, strongly endorse his reelection," Pence said. The fact that he's there for Ryan -- even if the top of the ticket is not -- is something Pence addressed on Fox News' "Happening Now."
"I talked to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship," Pence said. "He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan..."
In terms of mechanics, there is much work to be done, as senior staff turmoil continues: two high-level staffers were fired this week -- long-time GOP strategist Ed Brookover, who had been advising the campaign and Jimmy Stracner, who was the Western regional political director.
State directors don't have a national strategy to guide them or necessary funds to build campaigns. The Trump campaign has not focused on basic tasks like the transition, for instance. That office is supposed to open this week, with a staff of up to 15 working with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who's heading the transition effort. Federal law provides the facilities, but staff and travel must be funded by the campaign with hard dollars. The rough Romney budget, I am told, was $2.5 million in 2012. Trump has raised less than $200,000 for this task.
On top of the structural setbacks is the message. Late last week at a private fundraiser in Colorado Springs, Trump stunned donors by declaring he had no interest in becoming more presidential, arguing that he didn't act presidential in the primaries, and he won, so why change now?
That approach has fostered deep systemic weaknesses within the Trump campaign that are evident on the campaign trail. Events are being held in smaller venues because they are launched at the last minute -- the rally in Ashburn, Virginia, Tuesday was a classic example. A crowd far larger than the venue could accommodate showed up, so many were left outside.
RNC Chairman Reince Preibus has regular phone calls with Manafort and Trump, but at this point, phone calls seem inadequate to the task of righting this campaign. For that matter, we may be too charitable in calling Trump's organization a campaign: there are people involved and a political race is afoot. After that, the comparisons fray.
