GOP strategist Brad Todd on Sunday said President Trump made a “100-million-dollar mistake” by backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) to replace incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
“I think the president made a 100-million-dollar mistake in picking Ken Paxton and urging Republican primary voters to vote for him. John Cornyn is a much more credible person,” Todd said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“He is a much more moral person, and he also was going to be a shoo-in. I think Ken Paxton is a real lift, and I think it was a mistake,” he added.
Other strategists concur with Todd and have said Paxton may struggle to get elected to replace Cornyn.
Paxton’s separation from his ex-wife on “biblical grounds” and accusations of the two using three different properties as their primary residences were previously highlighted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which backed Cornyn in the GOP runoff last week.
Posts about Paxton’s “lies” were deleted by the party’s campaign arm after Paxton became the party nominee.
Amidst controversies, former White House strategist Steve Bannon said it’s going to be “very tough” for the Texas attorney general to win but said a victory by “five-plus” would be possible.
However, Trump has already declared victory in the race against state Rep. James Talarico (D-Texas) months out from November.
In a post on Truth Social, the president said he and Cornyn would “watch Ken become a fantastic, common sense Senator, one who is respected by all.”
“His opponent, Alfred E. Neuman, may be the worst TEXAS candidate I have ever seen,” Trump added, referring to Talarico after the GOP runoff.
