Nevada GOP cancels caucus and looks toward November 2020
Nevada GOP cancels caucus and looks toward November 2020
by Jeff Gillan
Monday, September 9th 2019
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Donald Trump’s star, embedded in the pavement before the main door, should be the clue: You’re walking into Trump country at the Nevada Republican Party headquarters.
This past weekend, at its party meeting in Winnemucca, it voted to scrap its presidential caucus next year.
“By canceling it, by opting out of it, it allows us to jump to the, what is gonna be the inevitable conclusion, that President Trump will be getting our delegates at the National Convention in Charlotte,” says Nevada GOP spokesperson Keith Schipper.
Trump, revered by his base, is facing challenges from three fellow Republicans: former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, and two former congressmen: South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Illinois' Joe Walsh.
RELATED | Nevada GOP scraps presidential nominating contests in 2020
So far, Republican parties in three other states have also scrapped their primaries, which makes the path harder for these GOP long-shots.
“You know, beyond a certain point, if they try to cancel all the primaries, I think it raises the question what are they scared of,” asked Weld over the weekend on CNN.
It’s not unusual for both parties to clear the path for their respective incumbents, Schipper tells us.
“Eight state Republican parties in ’92 did this for President [George H.W.] Bush, eight did this in ’96 on the Democrat side for President [Bill] Clinton, 10 more did it in 2004 for that President [George W.] Bush and 10 did it for President [Barack] Obama in 2012,” Schipper says.
As for the Republicans who challenge Trump, “they need to understand, like, at the end of the day, we're about electing Republicans and if they truly cared about the Republican brand they would get that, and they understand the president enjoys over 90 percent Republicans' approval and he is going to be the nominee,” says Schipper.
Caucuses are expensive. By canceling, the Nevada GOP says it can spend money on what counts: the election.
Unimpressed were Nevada Democrats.
"While the Nevada GOP is actively limiting voices in their caucus process, NV Dems are working to expand our process by providing voters with multiple options across several days to participate," the party said in a statement.
The GOP caucus cancellation proves another point, says conservative talk host Kevin Wall.
“I think it's another indication that the Republican Party in Nevada and the Republican party nationwide has become the Trump party, and that Trump is in control,” Wall said.
Over the weekend, Republicans also re-elected Michael McDonald to a fifth term as chairman of the state party.
He becomes the second longest-tenured GOP chair in the country.
https://news3lv.com/news/local/nevad...-november-2020
