For many liberals, Donald Trump is the ur-monster. But as the Washington establishment assesses its options in Trump v. Cruz, Trump is looking like the guy who could do a deal with the establishment. Fox News asked Washington GOP insiders:
And in the measure of dealing with either man as president, it was Trump by a mile.
Trump’s ideological flexibility won high marks as did his recent attacks on Cruz for being unable to make deals or build consensus while in Washington. Leaving aside his red-hot rhetoric, Trump looks like a better bet on paper: A socially moderate, mostly non-ideological, highly pragmatic, Northeastern businessman.
“He’s a guy who wants to win and will do what it takes to get there,” the lawmaker turned lobbyist said. “His book is called ‘Art of the Deal.’ That’s what he’s all about. And that’s somebody who could do business in Washington. That’s what this town is all about.”
Trump has been echoing this assessment in calling Ted Cruz nasty and hated by Washington Republicans:
“He’s very unpopular in Washington,” Mr. Trump said on “Fox and Friends.” “When you have somebody that can’t get along with anybody in Washington, you’re not going to get deals done.”
If Cruz were smart, he would start running TV ads in New Hampshire featuring Fox News’ assessment that Washington prefers Trump to Cruz and Trump’s agreement.
Maggie Gallagher is a senior fellow at the American Principles Project.
