In Ohio, Vice President Vance is stirring up excitement with his pitch for what he calls the Great American Comeback. He’s touting a year of rising wages for workers and a gargantuan $18 trillion in domestic investments that promise to shape 2023 as a potential record-breaking economic year. The administration claims these strategies reflect a novel approach, spurred on by focusing investments right back into American communities. Vance’s optimism paints a rosy picture, as if the economy has become a fairy-tale land where happy endings seem inevitable.
Meanwhile, the political landscape is heating up as President Trump aims to head to Iowa, gearing up for the 2024 elections. Despite a new poll giving Democrats a five-point edge, Republicans know the real fight is about more than just the economy’s surface-level numbers. The battle lies in winning the argument about those numbers, something seasoned Republicans know all too well. It’s a bit like wrestling an octopus—no single arm will win you the fight; you need to get a hold of the whole thing.
Kayleigh McEnany points out that although Trump isn’t on the ballot, his economic legacy and messaging remain potent tools for Republicans. Describing the economy as nothing short of a blockbuster, she cites indicators like robust GDP growth, reduced inflation, lower gas prices, and historically low homicide rates. Trump’s devoted fanbase wasn’t built on silence, and it’s exactly the kind of message-packed campaigning that Republicans are banking on repeating. Trump’s record isn’t just an album of hits; it’s the chart-topping playlist they can’t stop playing on repeat.
The grand strategy involves leveraging Trump’s campaign prowess as he traipses across the nation. Republicans recognize that when Donald Trump speaks, voters listen. His presence on the campaign trail, even if his name won’t be on the ticket, serves as a rallying call. Armed with Trump’s economic successes, Republican candidates are seeking to mirror his messaging discipline, effectively turning each stump speech into an economic sermon. After all, if Trump can campaign like it’s 2024, who needs a time machine?
The challenge remains for Republicans as they face inevitable transitions beyond Trump’s potential 2024 spectacle. The unique coalition built by Trump is a delicate orchestra that only he seems to conduct masterfully. How they’ll maintain the harmony when the maestro isn’t on stage is a puzzle they need to solve. But until then, every message echoes with the refrain that’s won them elections before: “Follow Trump’s lead, and you’re golden.” As the Republican narrative unfolds, it becomes increasingly apparent that keeping the Trump brand front and center is the core of their strategy—after all, why fix what isn’t broken?
