The wording in The New York Times headline is curious … almost as if it is asking a question …
U.S. president Donald Trump is “said to intend to campaign” for embattled South Carolina governor Henry McMaster in the Palmetto State on Monday?
What does that even mean? Guess we’re going to find out …
Having said that, how embarrassing is it for McMaster that Trump is having to come back to South Carolina again to pull his chestnuts out of the fire?
Talk about dragging a horse across the finish line …
Despite Trump gifting McMaster the governor’s office (and the power of incumbency), endorsing his campaign and pumping more than $1 million into his war chest at an October 2017 fundraiser … the incumbent governor still finds himself in a dogfight with Upstate businessman John Warren.
According to our sources, Trump was provided with polling data showing McMaster still enjoying a double-digit lead over his challenger – a 39-year-old Marine who started a successful financial firm in Greenville, S.C. upon his return from fighting in Iraq.
It’s unreal how much political capital Trump has plunged into McMaster – whose Johnny-come-lately endorsement of Trump in the 2016 “First in the South” presidential primary had absolutely zero impact the race.
[timed-content-server show=’2018-Jan-17 00:00:00′ hide=’2018-Jul-31 00:00:00′]SPONSORED CONTENT
[/timed-content-server]More importantly, exactly what benefit has South Carolina derived from McMaster’s relationship with Trump?
It didn’t help the state in the tariff war, it didn’t get us federal loan guarantees for the V.C. Summer nuclear project (a.k.a. #NukeGate) nor did it keep the federal government from shuttering (or attempting to shutter) the mixed oxide fuel (MOX) program at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, S.C.
We don’t disagree with the Trump administration on any of those issues, to be clear … but none of those decisions are going to help South Carolina’s economy.
Not saying, just saying …
***
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our stories? Please feel free to submit your own guest column or letter to the editor via-email HERE. Got a tip for us? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE. Want to support what we’re doing? SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Banner: Henry McMaster for Governor