   Covering GOP presidential wannabes in 2020? There are four Republican Parties - based on stories I’ve covered - with considerable overlap among the first three:
   Trump dead-enders: Named after similar to-anywhere followers of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, they will back Trump no matter how bad things get. They are functionally all white - and overwhelmingly retired, from any part of U.S.; that age makes his slogan “Make America Great Again” resonate strongly with them - because age makes them remember when this really was a great nation. They are driven by the economic, social, and foreign-respect collapse of America after the Vietnam War - and their view that Trump can restore what had been. Like cops or Mafia people in that they don’t care if you like them - but are obsessed with being respected. It is a cult of personality - and I’m hardly the first observer to say that: Trump is America’s first personality-cult president. Trump is, of course, their cause.
   Tea Party: Functionally all white - but all ages; driven by economic collapse of middle class. Just want back affluence; not particularly interested in any one president or candidate. But their logical 2020 candidate is Newt Gingrich - who campaigned at Tea Party rallies in his 2012 presidential campaign.
   Social-issues right: All white, all ages but most older, mainly heartland. Driven by abortion, gun rights, or same-sex marriage; really not interested in economy or foreign policy. Ted Cruz again their likely candidate - as in 2016.
   Country-club Republicans: Driven by economic concerns of the affluent - tax cuts, Obamacare, etc.; don’t care about much else. Mitt Romney - as in 2012 - is their logical guy, if he can get elected to the Senate in Utah.

Mitt Romney’s son Tagg campaigns for him, Burlington, N.C., Oct. 17, 2012.

Matt Maggio

Behind the Lens

Posts tagged with second-tag

Decline of a once-great daily

Covering 2020: Democrats

Covering 2020 - Republican Party

My first assignment

Covering the “Resistance” against Trump

Next year’s coming big stories

Batteries, batteries…