'Fear of his voters' prevents Republicans from parting with 'kiss of death' Trump: ex-GOP rep
Former United States Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) offered his thoughts Thursday on why he believes current House Republicans and 2024 GOP presidential candidates refuse to part ways with ex-President Donald Trump.
During Thursday's episode of MSNBC's Katie Tur Reports, Dent noted that "other than [ex-New Jersey Governor] Chris Christie, and [ex-Arkansas Governor] Asa Hutchinson, who was not part of the debate last night, not many are really taking on Donald Trump frontedly and directly, which you must do in order to win an election."
He continued, "I mean, it's inexplicable to me that, Republicans aren't just tearing the bark off the former president for the things he's said and done and the fact that he's brought nothing but defeat to the party. you're right. they're not going to win an election by ignoring Donald Trump. It hasn't worked so far. It's not gonna work in 2024."
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?
Tur then said, "You said they have been losing elections with Donald Trump at the forefront. They've lost the last three elections, or under performed greatly in the last three elections. What is holding them to this man? I know there's that 30% rock solid support, but that's not winning. So what's holding them to him?"
Dent replied, "It's not so much fear of Donald Trump as it is fear of his voters that could turn on them. Most members of Congress, in both parties and the Republican party, many of them represent very safe districts, and those districts, their only real political threat is to the right and the Trump base is large enough to affect a primary outcome. That's what they're afraid of. Look, it's really interesting to talk to the 18 or so House republicans who represent districts that Joe Biden won. You know they have a very different political calculation. Their battle is in the general election, and they cannot be seen as doting over Donald Trump, because they know Trump is the kiss of death in their general elections, and many of their districts. So this is the problem, that a lot of Republicans feel they can't win with Donald Trump — they can't win without him in the primary.
Watch the video below or at this link.
'They know they can't win with Donald Trump — can't win without him'youtu.be
READ MORE: This GOP senator is facing intense MAGA pressure to endorse Trump
