Behind Erick Erickson’s plot to find a third-party candidate
The blistering rise of Donald Trump and the shattering collapse of Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio led mainstream conservatives and other outspoken critics of the billionaire developer to redouble their efforts to prevent his coronation as the GOP nominee.
In a closed-door meeting at a Washington hotel today, anti-Trump Republicans gathered by WSB radio show host Erick Erickson and other influential conservatives are searching for an alternative in case Trump gets the 1,237 delegates he needs to lock down the nomination.
Erickson, who has a long history of warring with the billionaire, said a Trump candidacy would guarantee a Democrat in the White House and turn Georgia into a swing state.
“If 20 percent of Republicans won’t go vote for Donald Trump, you have to go give them a reason to vote because of your local school board race, your state legislative vote, your U.S. Senate race,” Erickson said on his News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB radio show. “Let’s say half of the people saying they’ll stay home stay home,” he added. “You’re still screwed if you’re a Republican in down-ballot races.”
(We should note that Erickson and your friends at the AJC share the same corporate overlords at Cox Media Group.)
About the Author
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
