If Trump loses can Republicans get their party back?

A good friend, a lifelong Republican, was bemoaning the fact that he didn’t have a political party he could call home anymore. The bunch that had hijacked the Republican Party didn’t come close to traditional Republican values. My friend didn’t say he would vote Democrat but did say there was no way he was voting for Trump.
 
A lot of traditional North Carolina Republicans feel the same. They aren’t saying much because they have witnessed the retribution that comes when you question or cross Trump. So, they just remain quiet. But don’t take their silence as approval of the man or the grasp he has over his cult. If you doubt my use of the word cult, look up the definition in the dictionary.
 
Traditional Republicans know the only way to take back control of the GOP is for Trump to lose….and lose “bigly.” Maybe then they can get their party back.
 
In North Carolina, this means defeating some of those who have kissed Trump’s ring and won primary elections. Mark Robinson is an embarrassment, admitted now by many Republicans. He is trailing in the polls by 14 points, having trouble raising money and is under investigation. It is horrifying to think Michele Morrow, who wanted Obama publicly executed, might become Superintendent of Public Schools. She is obviously willing to continue the Republican assault on traditional public schools, calling them “socialism centers” and “indoctrination centers.” And the mere thought that Dan Bishop, the self-proclaimed “Chaos Caucus” leader and primary sponsor of HB2, could become our state’s chief law enforcement officer is frightening. Further, our legislature has so gerrymandered congressional and legislative districts there is no chance of having fair elections.
 
Do you believe the election ends when the votes have been counted? We already see troubling signs indicating it won’t. An Elon University poll revealed that only 48 percent think the national vote count will be fair and accurate, down from 67 percent in 2020. A recently released poll by the Commission on the future of North Carolina elections reports that 75 percent of North Carolinians are very or somewhat confident their vote will be counted accurately.
 
State Republicans have already begun a campaign to spread disinformation and undermine public confidence in our elections. The state GOP, backed by the Republican National Committee, is demanding that 225,000 voter registrations in our state be purged from voter rolls because they do not contain both the voter’s driver’s license number and the last four digits of the voter’s social security number. According to the State Board of Elections, people registering to vote are to provide (among other data) “Your N.C. driver’s license number/NCDMV ID number or, if you do not have one, the last four digits of your Social Security number.” If you have neither, you are to check the box confirming you do not have one. 
 
There is no evidence that the 225,000 are not qualified to vote and should be purged. This is obviously an attempt to spread doubt.
 
North Carolina’s election integrity is one thing for which we can all be proud. But if your intent is to undermine public confidence, sowing seeds of doubt often enough and loud enough can turn perception into a reality.
 
Former first daughter Ivanka Trump revealed the game plan in her book: The Trump Card: Playing to win in work and Life. “Perception,” she said, “is more important than reality. If someone perceives something to be true, it is more important than if it is in fact true.”
 
Even more troubling was that the Elon poll revealed 45 percent were concerned about violence before the election. 74 percent were concerned about violence shortly after the election and 71 percent concerned around the election. Many obviously remember the January 6th insurrection.
 
The poll continued by asking how the basic principles and systems that make up American democracy will be affected. 36 percent of Republicans said it would be strengthened. Among Democrats, 48 percent expressed confidence democracy would be strengthened.
 
Then the poll asked independent voters how the parties have changed since 2020. 41 percent said Republicans had become more extreme, 31 percent said Democrats have become more extreme, but 45 percent didn’t think Democrats had changed much.
 
It is unbelievable where we are in America. Democracy is on the ballot November 5th. We must decide what kind of leadership we want. Do we want an authoritarian nationalist in charge, one who constantly talks about grievances and how bad things are? Or do we want a more positive vision of the future and how we can move closer toward achieving the founders’ dreams?
 
Predictions are we will have a very close outcome. Those who win will be the ones who do best at getting out the vote. Between now and then brace yourself for the ugliness of political advertising that further divides us.
 
Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.  Contact him at tomcamp@carolinabroadcasting.com