Trump's success surprises Trent Lott
Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said Wednesday that the success of Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, has stunned him.
“Trump just sucked all the oxygen out of 16 opponents,” Lott said. “He defeated senators, governors — people much more qualified to hold elective office.”
Lott had been supporting Republican candidate John Kasich, who suspended his campaign Wednesday.
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“This has been the weirdest campaign I’ve ever seen,” Lott said. “I’ve been watching for 50 years, … and this one has really been odd.”
He recommended that Trump pick Kasich from Ohio or U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio from Florida as a running mate to help win those critical states.
Lott spoke Wednesday at the Old Capitol Museum as part of the “History is Lunch” series, sponsored by the state Department of Archives and History.
He said Trump has “run an unbelievable campaign. I think a lot of people underestimated him. I think both parties have underestimated where the American people are now.”
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Americans are worried about job security, border security, jobs going overseas and a “flood of immigrants” coming in, he said. “Trump tapped into those veins of concern, and he’s going to be the nominee.”
Even his own son is supporting Trump, he said. “He said, ‘Hey, Dad, I’m tired of what we have. I want a businessman in there. I want the economy strengthened.’ ”
On the Democratic side, candidate Bernie Sanders has run a “credible campaign” against Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee for president, he said.
To those who say Trump winning the Republican nomination means a certain victory for Hillary Clinton, Lott said not so fast.
“Better not underestimate the appeal of Donald Trump,” he said. “He’s going to cause a massive turnout of people that don’t usually vote. There are going to be a lot of independents and Democrats that vote for him.”
He expressed concern about the general election becoming an “ugly campaign” because of the face-off between Trump and the Clintons, who “know how to play hardball,” he said.
Lott has co-written a book with former Senate Democratic Majority Leader Tom Daschle, “Crisis Point: Why We Must — And How We Can — Overcome Our Broken Politics In Washington And Across America.”
He talked Wednesday about how partisan politics are crippling Washington.
“I tell my conservative friends,” he said, “ ’It’s not enough to curse the darkness. What are you for?’ ”
Both he and Daschle are recommending a shorter campaign season, holding all the presidential primaries for states on one day.
He said he will support Trump, despite the candidate saying some things “that gave me an upset stomach,” including Trump’s criticism of U.S. Sen. John McCain’s “patriotism.”
But he said many Americans like what Trump is saying, even if it is “politically incorrect,” such as saying that “Muslims need to be checked out before we let them in the country.”
He said he would like to see Trump change his demeanor and develop a more positive message for the general election, explaining more about what he would do as president.
A few months ago, someone in a New York City crowd asked him what he thought Trump would do as president.
“I don’t know,” Lott replied.
Contact Jerry Mitchell at jmitchell@jackson.gannett.com or (601) 961-7064. Follow @jmitchellnews on Twitter.