The President’s message wasn’t ambiguous.
“Any interest from good and SMART America First Republican Patriots to run primary campaigns against Representatives Tom Rice, John Katko, Don Bacon, Don Young, Fred Upton (challenge accepted), Andrew Garbarino, Peter Meijer (challenge accepted), David McKinley (challenge accepted), Nancy Mace, Jaime Herrera Beutler (challenge accepted) and Chris Smith?” Trump announced in a widely-reported November 13, 2021 email.
“You will have my backing!” he added.
Multiple challengers subsequently answered his call to challenge four-decade incumbent Chris Smith in this year’s NJ-04 GOP primary contest, but the president has yet to weigh in on the race.
He’s withheld his backing, and he’s rapidly running out of time to influence the contest with only one week left to go before primary day on June 7th.
Part of the problem (if not all of the problem) is likely the simple reality that a well-funded challenger hasn’t emerged.
Most of the original field dropped out or failed to qualify with a sufficient number of valid petitions. The incumbent boasted $700,094 on hand as of May 18th and had already expended another $623,929 during the primary phase. Mike Crispi, a podcaster and Smith’s only remaining challenger with any juice, showed only $19,893 cash on hand and $100,243 spent. Coupled with total claim to the county lines and strong name recognition, Smith’s titanic money advantage makes it difficult for an unknown challenger to break out without outside help… like a presidential blessing.
Crispi doesn’t lack for Trump World support. His endorsement list includes Roger Stone (who is also his general consultant), Michael Flynn (a hero in MAGA circles), and Rudy Giuliani (a long-time Trump friend, ally, and ex-attorney). Trump himself is still the only one capable of driving the sort of media attention and small donor love which an outsider candidate needs to mount a successful challenge.
For his part, Congressman Smith – who voted against impeachment twice – has made a conscious effort to avoid criticizing the former president. Trump’s apparent decision to avoid intervening alleviates the need.
President Trump has only endorsed one U.S. House candidate to date in New Jersey this cycle: Jeff Van Drew.
