41%. That’s the number Mike Collins snagged in the first round of Georgia’s GOP Senate primary. Not a win. Not a loss. Just… not enough. He’s heading to a runoff against Derek Dooley. And now, he’s apparently decided the best way to seal the deal is to bring in the old circus tent.
Look, this isn’t subtle. Collins is hiring a veritable who’s who of Trump campaign veterans. We’re talking Tony Fabrizio, the pollster and senior strategist. Tim Saler, the data guru. Chip Englander, the battleground state whisperer. It’s a veritable MAGA reunion tour, all set to the backdrop of a Georgia runoff.
Is This a Trump Endorsement Signal? Or Just a Hail Mary?
Axios is calling this the “clearest indication yet that Trump may be leaning towards endorsing Collins.” Maybe. Or maybe it’s just Collins’ campaign realizing they need someone to rally the troops, and who better than the guys who know how to work a Trump rally crowd? Trump’s endorsements are a fickle beast, as we all know. Remember the Texas Senate race? His top strategists backed John Cornyn. Trump backed Cornyn’s opponent. Go figure.
This move also throws gasoline on the simmering feud between Collins and Governor Brian Kemp. Kemp is backing Dooley. Trump, as we know, has a long memory when it comes to perceived slights. Remember Kemp refusing to “find” votes after 2020? Trump hasn’t forgotten. He supported a primary challenger to Kemp in 2022, and while Kemp won, it wasn’t exactly a display of unwavering loyalty. Now, if Trump endorses Collins, it’s not just a primary; it’s a proxy war. And frankly, Trump relishes that stuff.
Trump is not always predictable in who he supports.
This is the understatement of the year. Trump’s endorsements are less a strategic alliance and more a popularity contest judged by his whim. It’s a power play, pure and simple. And Collins seems to be betting big that leaning into that power will carry him over the 50% mark.
What’s the Strategy Here, Anyway?
Collins got 41%. Dooley got 30%. The winner needs 50% plus one. This isn’t rocket science. Collins needs to peel off voters, and who better to understand how to energize a specific base than the folks who helped build Trump’s? They know how to talk to the Trump faithful. They know how to craft messages that resonate. They know how to mobilize. The question is, will it be enough to overcome a well-funded opponent and a potentially divided GOP electorate?
It’s a gamble, for sure. But in politics, especially in a runoff, sometimes you gotta go with the devil you know. And in this case, the devil knows how to play the Trump card. It’s a classic tactic: if you can’t win on your own merits, borrow someone else’s clout. And nobody has clout quite like Trump, for better or worse.
This hire tells us one thing: Collins isn’t playing defense. He’s going on offense, and he’s bringing in the heavy artillery from the MAGA playbook. Whether that artillery is aimed effectively at Dooley, or just serves to reignite the Kemp-Trump beef, remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be loud. And likely, very entertaining.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mike Collins’ campaign hope to achieve by hiring Trump advisers?
The campaign is likely hoping these experienced political operatives can help energize the Republican base, particularly Trump supporters, and craft a winning strategy to secure the necessary 50% of the vote in the primary runoff.
Could this move alienate Republican voters who aren’t aligned with Trump?
Potentially. While the hires may galvanize Trump’s loyalists, they could also alienate moderate Republicans or those who prefer to distance themselves from the former president. It’s a calculated risk.
Will this hire guarantee Trump’s endorsement for Mike Collins?
Not necessarily. The article highlights that Trump’s endorsements can be unpredictable, even when his former campaign staff are involved.
