Which version of convicted felon and former president Donald Trump will show up for Tuesday’s debate in Philadelphia? Will it be the one that easily won a debate with President Joe Biden in June, or will it be the undisciplined, enraged Trump who showed up for an impromptu “press conference” on Friday?
According to Republicans who spoke with Politico, an enraged and frantic Trump could doom himself and the GOP if he decides to channel his inner Mussolini and vent his spleen against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Tricia McLaughlin, who was a senior advisor to Vivek Ramaswamy, notes, “I think — I pray — he can be disciplined,” adding that if Trump feels both Harris and the moderators are against him, things could get very ugly.
“If Trump feels like he’s backed into a corner and feels like it’s three on one, that could be a problem.”
A close Trump ally who spoke confidentially suggested the disgraced ex-president has less to lose than Harris.
“Most voters have a locked-in view of Trump, so it’s not like his performance will radically change views. He just needs to not be overly aggressive and create a permission structure for swing voters fed up with the economy and the border to vote for him. The debate is far more consequential for Kamala Harris because voters don’t have a solidified view of her yet.”
Republican consultant Rob Stutzman said he’s terrified of how Trump will come across with millions of eyes on him.
“Harris will want to make personality the issue, which is hard for him to resist, but it will be a bad night for him if he falls back on hurling absurd insults at Harris.”
“She can deliver a set piece in a debate,” he continued. “Will he be able to resist taking the bait? Doubt it. He’ll more likely be like a lab rat hitting the cocaine pan instead of the food pan.”
In other words, Trump needs to be disciplined and keep himself under control. But considering that he doesn’t excel at either of those things, expect the coked-out lab rat exposing his teeth and screaming about being persecuted to be on full display.
