TO:                        Interested Parties

FROM:                 Bob Salera, Campaign Manager

DATE:                   May 4, 2022

RE:                        Club for Growth vs. Trump

The Club for Growth has declared war on President Trump, and the latest battleground they’ve chosen is Pennsylvania, as they come to the aid of failed U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain and his flailing campaign with a dishonest attack ad against pro-Trump businessman Dave White.

The Club’s support for McSwain should come as little surprise given their longstanding ties to Senator Pat Toomey, who previously served as the group’s president. McSwain has long been Toomey’s pawn in this race, and he’s now being used as Toomey continues his fight against President Trump.

Club vs. Trump

This spring, the Club for Growth is openly at war with President Trump.

In the Ohio Senate Primary, after his endorsement of JD Vance, the Club openly attacked President Trump in TV ads. But despite spending millions attacking Trump and Vance, the Club’s effort failed miserably.

According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, on April 15, the day President Trump endorsed, Vance was in third place at 10.5%, 11 points out of first place. Less than three weeks later, Vance won the primary with 32.2% of the vote, defeating the Club-backed candidate by 8.3 points.

It’s clear that President Trump’s endorsement is as valuable as ever, moving Vance’s support by more than 20 points in just 18 days.

The Club turns to Pennsylvania

After their embarrassing loss in Ohio, The Club for Growth has turned their eyes east to Pennsylvania, where they’ve come in with a large ad buy attacking Dave White, a pro-Trump businessman, in favor of their preferred candidate, Pat Toomey acolyte Bill McSwain, who President Trump attacked as, “a coward, who let our country down.”

In backing McSwain, Club for Growth is joining forces with Pennsylvania-based PAC Commonwealth Partners, whose President, Matt Brouillette doubled down on McSwain after Trump’s anti-endorsement, criticizing Trump for attacking his candidate.

The Club’s move can only be read as an attempt to save face after losing in Ohio.

But the Club for Growth’s war on Trump is destined to fail in Pennsylvania as well. Polling has consistently shown that President Trump remains extremely popular among Pennsylvania Republicans, with a recent Fox News poll putting his favorable rating at 82%, compared to Pat Toomey’s 45% favorable rating.

Summary

With just two weeks left in the campaign, it’s clear this race has become a referendum on President Trump.

The Club for Growth is out for revenge after their embarrassing loss to President Trump in Ohio and have set their sights on attacking pro-Trump businessman Dave White. It’s up to Pennsylvania Republicans to deliver a win to Trump by electing White and rejecting Club for Growth backed failed U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain’s candidacy.

Bob Salera

Campaign Manager

Dave White for Governor
http://www.davewhiteforgovernor.com/