They say at least one-third of the nation's Republicans believe that Donald Trump can save America. Well, I don't know about all of America. But I do believe there's at least one American Trump could save if he emerges from Cleveland as the GOP presidential nominee -- Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
I'm thinking President Obama is probably going to allow Florida Congresswoman DWS to see the 2016 election through as Democratic National Committee chairwoman. Though, please don't ask me why after the Dems' mid-term disaster that was 2014.
But, if Obama intended to replace her, he would have done it when he looked at the gaping disparity between the GOP and the Democrats in voter turnout in the primaries. The gap is not in the tens of thousands but in the millions.
With the presence of Trump, the GOP is energizing its base as it hasn't done in years. And it's firing up a ton of young people who in times past would likely not have been caught dead voting for a GOP presidential candidate. At the same time -- putting it as charitably as I can -- the Democratic turnout has been ... let's say, understated ... even considering populist Bernie Sanders has touched a huge nerve among an army of young and liberal voters of all ages.
Debbie has to be rooting for a Trump nomination like there's no tomorrow. What she knows -- or hopes -- is that Trump in the General Election will fire up the Democratic base, that it won't matter who the the party puts in, Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, Dems will stampede to the polls to keep Donald Trump out of the White House.
What a face full of blemishes a Trump defeat would cover up for Debbie. Look at the priorities of a DNC chair:
- Spot and recruit able talent to run for office as Democrats (she failed in 2014, doesn't look good in 2016),
- Help raise enough money for Democratic candidates and incumbents to put volunteer and paid professional boots on the ground for their campaigns (she failed in 2014, is behind the Repubs in 2016),
- Mount an all-out, get-out-the-vote blitz in the weeks leading up to the election to put Democrats locally and nationally over the top (she failed in 2014, it's too early to tell about 2016).
Right now, the only thing going right for DWS is the Republicans' implosion, including the idea of manufacturing a brokered convention -- an idea that looks worse by the hour. The truth is, the billionaire celebrity-businessman is going to be the Republicans' nominee -- mark my words.
Debbie needs Trump to win in Cleveland.
Then she needs him to lose in the General Election so she can take credit.
And if Trump loses? Besides watching Debbie cartwheel clear around DuPont Circle, Democrats aren't likely ever to see the downside -- the inattention, inactivity, poor decisions and mess-ups that punctuated her 2016 performance. And they won't care anyway. Why should they? The only thing that counts is that a Democrat will have won the White House on Debbie Wasserman Schultz's watch.
Oh, yes, and try to imagine, too, how many candidates on all levels of government -- even the truly lame ones -- the Democratic winner would drag in on his/her coattails.
Truth be told, the Republicans have to defend 24 Senate seats, the Democrats only 10. The Dems can take back the Senate with a mere swing of five seats. What a huge coup this would be for Debbie if it happens.
It would also give a Democratic president a chance to get his or her agenda on the congressional table.
Debbie shouldn't count her chickens. If Donald Trump wins, all bets of salvation for her misdeeds and gaffes are off. She will have used up the last of her nine lives. And, oh, my goodness, if she doesn't flip the Senate, I give the Dems until Christmas before they start calling her Debbie Wasser-name.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
