Laura King at LAT:
President Trump and his allies sought to depict protests over racial injustice as a law-and-order campaign issue Sunday, attacking Democratic leaders, refusing to condemn deadly vigilante violence and touting a purportedly tranquil “Donald Trump’s America” as former Vice President Joe Biden accused him of inciting violence for political gain.
Against the backdrop of a still-raging coronavirus outbreak, the White House offered the clearest signal yet of a calculated GOP strategy of exploiting voter fears of violence as the campaign against Biden enters the final stretch.
The strategy closely resembles the one Trump employed, unsuccessfully, in the 2018 midterm election, when he spent weeks warning of “caravans” of migrants trying to reach the U.S. border with Mexico. That approach failed to stave off large Democratic gains in congressional races, but Trump has returned to it this year as he continues to lag behind Biden in polls of the presidential race.
"The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who's best on public safety and law and order" -- Kellyanne Conway makes a case that the killings of peaceful protesters will benefit Trump politically pic.twitter.com/ClJ6ArrbkE— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 27, 2020
On Thursday, Trump’s aides said they were hoping to see more violence and chaos as part of their reelection strategy.
On Saturday, grassroots Trump supporters delivered more violence and chaos.
Sunday morning, Trump tweeted his approval. https://t.co/YjEa10qsrc
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) August 30, 2020
"Well I think it certainly paints a very clear picture" -- Lara Trump doubles down on Kellyanne Conway's comments about violence in the streets being good politically for Trump pic.twitter.com/COkyJRrtHF— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 30, 2020
The big backlash going on in Portland cannot be unexpected after 95 days of watching and incompetent Mayor admit that he has no idea what he is doing. The people of Portland won’t put up with no safety any longer.The Mayor is a FOOL. Bring in the National Guard! https://t.co/bM6ypak94t— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2020
GREAT PATRIOTS! https://t.co/BWGxVoBTmI— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2020
