President Donald Trump’s most recent poll averages are troubling indeed. As fellow Republicans must now reckon with the possibility he is a sinking ship.
Which reportedly has triggered some to think of their declining fortunes and consider a different approach.
One that may not be tied to the political fortune of Pres. Trump. Leading donor Dan Eberhart told, “I hope the polls have it wrong. But Republicans… need to develop a campaign strategy committed to protecting the Senate at all costs, even if it means sacrificing the Oval Office.”
And he is not alone in the sentiment. Ari Fleischer, one-time Press Secretary for Ex-President George W. Bush made it clear that Republicans are not doing enough. They currently face dim prospects for November in the Senate as well as the House of Representatives.
As Fleischer announced, “He’s in trouble, there’s no question. By every traditional measuring stick, this looks like a Biden landslide. It’s hard to predict what will happen in Congress, but anytime there is a large-scale victory, it has the potential to create tides to sweep people out.
Several GOP members on Capitol Hill are seemingly hitching their wagons to Trump. The president still enjoys a sky-high approval rating within the Republican party. Over 95% by some accounts.
Though clearly that won’t translate into key votes. As we inch closer to election day, it seems as if more Republicans are coming to terms with the reality in front of them and giving up hope for a Trump re-election, but instead focusing on strategies to keep the Senate a Republican majority, making it easier to stop Biden proposals that hit the floor.
Trump rocked the boat recently with an uneven debate performance. In addition to a White House covid-19 outbreak.
This believed to have resulted from a Rose Garden ceremony on September 26th honoring Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Beyond that a series of largely anonymous, but damaging reports about Trump by The Atlantic. Of which the Commander-in-Chief allegedly spoke derisively toward U.S. Military service personnel. Plus weeks later the publication charged he talks negatively about his religious base.
Two pollsters in 2016, (Investor’s Business Daily/TechnoMetrica poll (IBD/TIPP) and University of Southern California Dornslife/Los Angeles Times poll (USC/LA Times)) both correctly predicted Trump’s victory, which now both predict Trump’s landslide loss to Joe Biden.
As of Oct. 12, 2020, the IBD/TIPP poll is predicting Trump losing to Democratic challenger Joe Biden by 8.5%, and the USC poll has Trump losing by 13%. Real Clear Politics polls also show a grim outlook for Trump over the last 48 hours: 
What will remaining Republicans do? Trump could be in big trouble.
If Trump loses, we do not expect a peaceful transfer of power from Trump to Biden, but a handful of top Republicans dismissed Donald Trump’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power.
Republicans tried to deliver reassurances that the process, which is outlined by the Constitution, will not only be orderly, but legitimate as well.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, tweeted,
“The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792.”
McConnell chose not to directly address Trump in his tweet it was more than clear that his post was a direct response to Trump’s comments.
When asked during a White House briefing if he would peacefully transfer power if Biden would defeat him in the upcoming elections Trump stated, “well, we’re going to have to see what happens.” “You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster.”
Trump was pressed later in the briefing and he replied, “We’ll want to have — get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very — we’ll have a very peaceful — there won’t be a transfer, frankly. There’ll be a continuation.”
Later in the day, Sen. Mitt Romney, a frequent Trump critic, tweeted “Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable.”
Sen. Marco Rubio, of Florida, tweeted, “As we have done for over two centuries we will have a legitimate & fair election It may take longer than usual to know the outcome, but it will be a valid one And at noon on Jan 20, 2021, we will peacefully swear in the President.” 
Rep. Liz Cheney tweeted, that the peaceful transfer of power is “The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. America’s leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath.”
Rep. Steve Stivers also tweeted on Thursday, “Nothing defines our Constitutional Republic more than the peaceful transition of power. I’ve taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and I will uphold that oath.” In a second tweet Stivers added, “Regardless of how divided our country is right now when elections are over and winners are declared, we must all commit ourselves to the Constitution and accept the results.”
“President Trump: You are not a dictator, and America will not permit you to be one,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted. 
“He is openly calling for fascism. We need to say it out loud. That includes reporters. This year 247-of-248 Republicans in Congress voted to keep Trump in office. They did it because they value their power more than democracy itself. Never forget it,” tweeted Rep. Bill Pascrell. 
Rep. Mark Pocan, tweeted, “How can you watch this and not see democracy being discarded for fascism?” 
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff appeared on the Rachel Maddow show and said Trump’s comments “cross a very bright line.”
“There is no question he means exactly what he said, and people fail to take it seriously at our national peril,” Schiff added. “This is a moment that I would say to any Republican of good conscience working in the administration, it is time for you to resign.”
We doubt this is a turning point for McConnell’s policies and a full breaking from the Trump relationship he has, but at least Trump knows that if he loses, he’s done and his own Senate will see to it that happens.
