‘Good Strategy!’ CNN Panel Shouts Out Trump’s Gameplan for Winning Midterms

CNN contributor Lulu Garcia-Navarro conceded that President Donald Trump is employing a “good strategy” ahead of the midterm elections as Republicans fight to maintain control of Congress.

Garcia-Navarro, who also hosts a New York Times podcast, joined Monday’s edition of The Arena to discuss Trump’s approach ahead of his rally in Youngstown, Ohio, later this evening.

“I think what you’re seeing with Trump is actually a good strategy!” she said. “They need turnout. I know everyone sort of makes fun of him because everyone’s like, ‘Oh, look at him. He’s making it all about himself, and look at his approval ratings. They’re terrible.’ But if you’re going to red districts and your message is, ‘Come out,’ that’s because there are Republican voters who might be dissatisfied with Trump — might stay home in a midterm because people vote less in a midterm — and that is gonna be problematic for them.”

“They’re trying to, essentially, hold onto territory that they have already,” Garcia-Navarro continued. “So, I don’t think it’s a dumb strategy for Trump to go to these places and make it about him because what he’s trying to do is really pull in people who might be mad and might just be like, ‘You know what? I’m a Republican. I’m not gonna vote for a Democrat, but I’m just gonna stay home instead.'”

CNN’s political director, David Chalian, then added, “Not only may it not be a dumb strategy — it may be the only available strategy to them.”

Democrats have maintained a steady lead on the generic congressional ballot, with a growing number of once-safe Republican seats now competitive. The GOP is now widely expected to lose its slim House majority, with control of the Senate potentially at risk as well.

Trump has held recent rallies in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Nebraska, New York, and Tennessee. After Ohio tonight, he’s expected in Alaska, Montana, and Arizona later this week.

Watch the clip above on CNN.

Jason Cohen contributed to this report.

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