Trump ridiculed as his endorsement of long-shot Utah Senate race candidate Trent Staggs baffles allies

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump's allies worry that by supporting a longshot conservative contender in the contest to succeed retiring Senator Mitt Romney, the former president has strengthened the hands of the GOP's moderate faction in Utah, as per The Hill.

Shortly before the Utah GOP convention in April, Trump backed Trent Staggs. The voters are slated to formally select their nominee on June 25. 

Donald Trump's allies worry his endorsement of Trent Staggs is going to put John Curtis in the lead

Trump-aligned Republicans are concerned that Staggs' lack of viability may split conservative voters and put the more moderate candidate, Rep John Curtis (R-Utah), in the lead. Staggs has struggled to raise money and gain traction in the polls.

A Utah-based GOP operative said, "Everyone knows this is Curtis’ race to lose. Staggs has to pitch a perfect game to win. … [Trump’s team] has to take a real interest in this seat for it to not fold over to Curtis."

Curtis wasn't ever really in contention to gain Trump’s endorsement. Before Nikki Haley withdrew from the GOP presidential primary race, Curtis' wife was a fervent supporter of the former South Carolina governor.

Moreover, he did not support Trump during the presidential primary earlier this year and a large portion of Romney's crew is likewise in his corner. 

Republican operatives feel that had Trump truly desired to make a significant impact on the election, he would have endorsed either former Utah state House Speaker Brad Wilson (R) or businessman Jason Walton, both of whom are well-funded and would have had a strong chance of winning if the ex-POTUS had sided with them.

Pointing to the decision not to back Walton specifically, a Utah-based GOP operative said, "It was a real miscalculation picking Staggs," and highlighted that Walton had the necessary campaign infrastructure to publicize an endorsement.

Two GOP sources informed The Hill that the night before the convention, Sen Mike Lee privately asked Trump to back Walton. A representative for Lee declined to provide any details on the said conversations.

Dan Hauser, a top political aide to Lee, stated, "Sen Lee speaks to President Trump regularly, and President Trump asks very routinely on not just the Utah Senate race but many of the Senate races because the senator often meets with candidates. They have discussed numerous options in numerous races. But anything in specifics they discuss in private, they like to keep it that way."

Internet mocks Donald Trump as he baffles allies by endorsing Trent Staggs

One wrote, "The kiss of death for Staggs, your endorsement!" while one added, "Loser talk, unfair, victim, unfair boo hoo!"

"Trump backs candidates that will owe him. It's a sadly effective strategy for Trump for whom everything is always personal and always about him," noted a person, and someone else declared, "You are the biggest Loser, loser."

An individual opined, "Cut-and-paste BLAH BLAH BLAH useless endorsement. If he wins, you'll say he owes you; if he loses, you've say you never heard of him before."

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