A.G. Gancarski
Ahead of the Wisconsin primary results, a popular narrative is that the Donald Trump campaign is in “disarray.”
A POLITICO story Tuesday declared that “morale sinks” as “key battleground state staff” has been jettisoned.
Central to the POLITICO narrative: Florida, where the website says the “disarray” is having tangible consequences.
“Since March, the campaign has been laying off field staff en masse around the country and has dismantled much of what existed of its organizations in general-election battlegrounds, including Florida and Ohio … Trump’s campaign is increasingly falling into disarray as the Manhattan billionaire braces for a loss in Wisconsin that could set him on course for an uncertain convention floor fight for the Republican presidential nomination … most of Trump’s South Carolina, Florida and Ohio teams have not had their contracts renewed, according to a person familiar with the campaign, who said the lack of organization in Florida was putting Trump at a disadvantage in the delegate selection process …”
Huge, if true. But Florida Co-Chairwoman Susie Wiles says the narrative is not.
“The Trump campaign has been nontraditional, but very effective, since the first day. When a state’s primary has been held, staff in that state are either moved go a state where the primary is yet to come. If they’re unable to move, sometimes they remain in their home state working as volunteers and, in some cases, the campaign and the staff part ways. This is not disarray; it is planned,” Wiles said Tuesday.
“In Florida we have a strong coalition of volunteers and a few highly effective staff as of this date. As we get closer to the general election, the staffing in Florida will be evaluated and the campaign will adjust as needed.”
