Two top advisers to President Trump’s 2016 campaign warned him about his shaky standing in several key battlegrounds in the 2020 race, provoking the White House to fly in state directors from Arizona and Florida to give updates, according to a new report.
Politico reports that Trump’s 2016 campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, and 2016 deputy campaign manager, David Bossie, went to the White House last week and informed Trump that he’s trailing in several key swing states that could determine the outcome of the November election.
Neither Lewandowski nor Bossie are involved with the president’s 2020 campaign, but Trump is known to consult with them on occasion about the political terrain.
Following their meeting with Trump, the campaign’s state directors for Arizona and Florida were reportedly called in to the White House to discuss the state of play.
Arizona has not gone for the Democratic presidential nominee since 1996. Polls show presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with a small but consistent lead there over the past few months.
Florida is a perennial battleground state that looks like a toss-up, although polls show Trump is underperforming with key groups, such as older voters, that could tip the balance to the former vice president.
The conversation between Trump and his former advisers also reportedly focused on GOP senators struggling in their reelection efforts in traditionally red states, provoking Trump to call in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) trails Democrat Mark Kelly badly in Arizona. She is running well behind Trump in the state.
And Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) has an uphill climb to win the crowded jungle primary in Georgia, where she faces challenges from Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), a Trump ally, and two Democrats.