Not to inform, but to inflame

Presidential primaries are different from general elections in more ways than just when we vote. In a primary, the campaign is not aimed at swing voters who may bring victory. It is not aimed at those who sometimes vote, and other times don’t. In a primary, the candidate is after those who already agree and do vote in every election.

As a result, the goal is not to inform, but to inflame. “I am the best person to destroy the evil enemy. Vilifying is not a strictly partisan talent, but Republicans from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump seem more adept.

Recently, this quote made the electronic rounds: “President Trump remains committed and engaged in Saving America from the disastrous leadership of the Communist Democrats,” he wrote in an email. “All avenues to achieving that remain on the table.”

The “he” in “he wrote” comes from the best source of Trump plans: Donald Trump himself. He was the “he” and was the author, speaking of himself in the third person.

According to recent newspaper accounts, based on one participant’s leak from a small meeting of close advisers, Trump said he intended to run in 2024 and wanted to announce immediately. He gave in to those who said it was too soon, in large part, because it would impede fundraising by increased disclosure of sources of money.

For several other Republicans, Trump’s quasi-silence is not golden. It complicates their political lives. They are running and not running at the same time. With our early primary, Iowa is irresistible, even for those who are not running. They come, I guess, to see our mountains, pyramids, and holy places.

Running in presidential primaries is an odd compulsion. Gov. Harold Stassen, a Republican, ran nine times, first in 1944 and last in 1992. Sen. Eugene McCarthy, a Democrat, ran five times. Iowa may see several men start their marathon this year.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came to West Des Moines recently to help his party control the House. Reporters were excluded from his meeting at Jethro’s BBQ where there was probably an overflow crowd of several dozen.

Sen. Marco Rubio was also on a mission here. He was intent on taking back control of the Senate. That seems odd in Iowa where two Republicans are already there. Sen. Grassley is not likely to gain a single vote because of an outsider speaking up for him.

Mike Pence has been here, too. Both he and Pompeo spoke to the Family Leadership Summit. It is a traditional stop for anyone seeking Christian right support. Prayer may be the only good solution to keeping Trump out of the race, and Pompeo, Rubio and Pence are in the pews and, appropriately, on their knees. Campaigning for our incumbents or aspirants is difficult since no Iowa Republican wants to be seen a Pompeo or Pence or Rubio surrogate for fear of offending all the Trump voters.

It is a long time to the 2024 primary, and we will have many visits from a handful of non-candidates between now and then. Maybe Donald Trump will pick one for his crusade to save the country from “Communist Democrats.”

Norman Sherman of Coralville has worked extensively in politics, including as Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s press secretary, and authored a memoir “From Nowhere to Somewhere.”