Embattled 42-year-old Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski got the ax today for Trump’s recent plunge in the polls. With seasoned GOP campaign veteran Paul Manafort taking over as campaign chairman May 19, it was a just a matter of time before the brash Lewandowski headed to the exit. Corey was more Trump’s manservant than campaign manager, famous for “letting Trump Be Trump.” Now that Donald faces determined Party insiders at the GOP convention July 18, the clock is ticking on working things out. Recent polls, showing Hillary with an aggregate lead in national polls of 8%, Trump decided it was time to let the experts run his campaign. Lewandowski was charged with assault for allegedly manhandling Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields March 29. Though Palm Beach police dropped charges April 14, it created unwanted distraction for Trump’s campaign.
Corey’s real problem stemmed from his lack of experience running a national campaign. Trump’s energy and charisma helped him roll through the GOP primaries without too many problems but now faces a different animal running a national campaign against Democratic presumptive nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hillary knows how to run a successful national campaign, working closely with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, to wins two terms [1992-2001] “The Donald J. Trump Campaign of President, which has set historic record in the Republican Party having received 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign,” said campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks. Whether admitted to or not, Corey ran afoul with Manafort and other more experienced campaign staffers.
Corey was a good fit for Trump because he didn’t dare try to manage the too often blustery rhetoric, now coming back to bite the campaign. Corey’s “Let Trump Be Trump,” was more because he wasn’t in a position to advise Trump. Manafort’s got much more clout over controlling the message, though Trump’s got to get on the same page as his communication staff. Ultimately, Trump’s sinking polls led to Lewandowski’s ouster. Unable to get along with Trump’s daughter Invanka and her husband Jared Kushner, Corey was heading out the door. Trump’s campaign advisors realize the high stakes heading into the convention but, more importantly, taking on Hillary. Hillary’s done a good job of painting Trump as a racist-misogynist, especially assigning Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as her attack dog. Trump’s campaign hasn’t yet hit back.
Considered an outsider like Trump, Lewandowski didn’t improve relations with the Republican National Committee. While there’s been recent calls to change the rule and let delegates “vote their conscience,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus has opposed any rules changes. Trump’s slated with bound delegates on the first ballot to win the GOP nomination outright. Anti-Trump voices, like former GOP candidate and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney, are pushing for the rules change, hoping to derail Trump at the convention. Priebus doesn’t want to disenfranchise 14 million Trump voters, something Jeb and Mitt could care less about. With Corey out of the way, it’s easier for Manafort to take charge of Trump’s campaign message, something Corey couldn’t do. Corey was over his head, requiring changes at the top of Trump’s campaign.
Trump’s critiques of mainstream media require a more adroit communication strategy going forward. No matter what Trump said, Corey would applaud the candidate’s honesty. Manafort has his work cut out for him reining in Trump’s controversial remarks. No matter what Donald says, the mainstream media finds fault, much like the Hillary campaign. Once Trump won the Indiana primary May 3 and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich dropped out, Corey’s days were numbered. With no national campaign experience, Corey had nothing to add to Trump’s national ambitions. Had he deferred to Manafort, he might have gotten a minor role in the national campaign. Having run the campaign with a tight grip, Corey couldn’t let go when Trump hired more seasoned campaign operatives, prompting Manafort to give Corey his walking papers.
Corey’s “Let Trump Be Trump” philosophy couldn’t translate into a national campaign, especially after Trump called out a Mexican judge in Trump University’s lawsuit and, more recently, his Tweets about the June 12 Orlando terrorist attack. Unlike Lewandowski, Manafort and Trump’s communication team should help measure more carefully Trump’s public remarks, something exploited readily by the Hillary campaign. Corey had nothing to add to a national campaign other that “Let Trump Be Trump.” Exiting the campaign was long overdue for Corey who plans to return to New Hampshire to lead Trump’s delegation to Cleveland. “The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication, and we wish him the best in the future,” said Hicks, giving no details over his abrupt dismissal. Whatever the reasons, it was clear Corey was over his head.
