Analysis: McConnell is trying to end-run Trump. It’s not working.
McConnell and his allies still have hope that Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey will change his mind about a lack of interest in taking on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly this year.
But in open seat races like Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania, GOP candidates are falling all over themselves to curry favor with Trump, not the Senate’s most powerful Republican.
If the Senate landscape is a proxy battle between Trump and McConnell, then the former President is, at least at the moment, winning easily.
Now, we are still months from filing deadlines in many states. So McConnell still has some time.
Even if McConnell can convince Ducey to run for Senate, however, there’s no guarantee that the Arizona governor could win a Republican primary — especially with Trump still angry that he didn’t overturn the election results in the state.
The Point: Unless and until McConnell can show that the GOP establishment can recruit and deliver primary victories to its preferred candidates, it’s a safe bet to assume this is still Donald Trump’s party.
