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Trump's Novel Campaign Tactic: 'Pretend I'm on the Ballot' for GOP Primary

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged supporters to vote in a special election in South Carolina, asking them to "pretend" he is on the ballot.
  • Trump endorsed Darline Graham Nordone, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, in her primary race.
  • Trump warned that Republicans could lose Congress and he could be impeached if voters do not turn out.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump employed a novel campaign tactic in South Carolina, imploring his supporters to cast their ballots in a special primary election by asking them to "pretend" he is a candidate. The unusual appeal came during a rally on August 21st, where Trump endorsed Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Trump argued that his supporters are more motivated to vote when he is directly on the ballot. "They say Trump does well when Trump is on the ballot, but when he's not on the ballot, his people don't come out, don't vote for the senator, the congressman... So, what I really want you to do is pretend I'm on the ballot, just get out and vote for whoever it is," Trump told the crowd.

They say Trump does well when Trump is on the ballot, but when he's not on the ballot, his people don't come out, don't vote for the senator, the congressman... So, what I really want you to do is pretend I'm on the ballot, just get out and vote for whoever it is.

— Donald TrumpThe former president urged supporters to vote in a South Carolina primary by asking them to imagine he was a candidate.

This primary race has become a crucial test of Trump's influence over Republican voters in the deeply conservative state. Nordone, who has no prior elected experience, was appointed to fill her brother's seat temporarily. She is competing against Representative Ralph Norman for the Republican nomination after failing to secure a direct win in an earlier special primary.

I'm on the ballot, we're all on the ballot, the country is on the ballot.

— Donald TrumpTrump stressed the importance of voter turnout in the upcoming midterm elections.

Amidst Republican efforts to retain their majority in Congress, Trump's "pretend I'm on the ballot" plea aims to energize the GOP base. However, this strategy could potentially benefit Democrats, who have sought to link swing-state Republican candidates with Trump. The former president also issued a stark warning: if the Republican Party loses its congressional majority, Democrats will initiate impeachment proceedings against him.

Trump emphasized the need for a massive turnout in the midterm elections, stating, "I'm on the ballot, we're all on the ballot, the country is on the ballot." His call for a "manipulation-proof" vote underscores the high stakes for the Republican Party as it faces an increasingly mobilized Democratic electorate.

I will be impeached, they will impeach me, and they don't even know why.

— Donald TrumpThe former president warned about the possibility of impeachment if Republicans lose control of Congress.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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