RNC Reportedly “Dangling Access” To Voter Data And Other Tools In Effort To Rein In Trump's Extremism

Politico: RNC “Dangling Access” To Voter Data And Operations To “Help Steer Trump ... Away From The Inflammatory Rhetoric.” On February 25, Politico's Daniel Strauss reported that Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus “has begun stating in private meetings that the party has sway over its at times unwelcome front-runner because it has tools Trump will need to use a general election.” Strauss explained that by “dangling access to these resources” such as voter data and other operations, “Priebus thinks he can help steer Trump towards partywide policy goals and away from the inflammatory rhetoric”:

Donald Trump has steamrolled toward the Republican nomination by lambasting all things political establishment, and now that establishment thinks it can convince their insult-wielding front-runner he needs them.

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus has begun stating in private meetings that the party has sway over its at times unwelcome front-runner because it has tools Trump will need to use to win a general election -- voter data and field, digital and media operations that a nominee typically inherits from the party infrastructure.

Dangling access to these resources, Priebus thinks he can help steer Trump toward partywide policy goals and away from the inflammatory rhetoric that Republican officials see as divisive and dangerous, especially outside of the primary, according to two Republican sources who have spoken with the RNC chairman.

“It's a relationship,” said RNC chief strategist and communications director Sean Spicer. “Every nominee -- it doesn't matter this cycle or last cycle -- understands now that the role of parties is critical in terms of the manpower, the data, the press operation, the research. The bottom line is no nominee can win without the party.” [Politico, 2/25/16]

Media Scoff At Idea That RNC Thinks “They Could Control The Useful Populist Demagogue”

Commentary Magazine's Noah Rothman: “History Is Littered With The Bodies Of Powerful Men Who Thought They Could Control The Useful Populist Demagogue.”

History is littered with the bodies of powerful men who thought they could control the useful populist demagogue. https://t.co/P0yEq15U0P

-- Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) February 25, 2016

[Twitter.com, 2/25/16]

National Review's Jonah Goldberg: “If We Just Feed The Alligator A Foot, He'll Behave And Not Want More.”

If we just feed the alligator a foot, he'll behave and not want more. https://t.co/cnQzaIPLMD

-- Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 25, 2016

[Twitter.com, 2/25/16]

Vox's Matthew Yglesias: “GOP Elites Convincing Themselves They Can Control Trump Is Even More Absurd Than Believing They Can Beat Him.”

GOP elites convincing themselves they can control Trump is even more absurd than believing they can beat him. https://t.co/tBPrfSX6Vr

-- Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 25, 2016

[Twitter.com, 2/25/16]

Washington Free Beacon's Sonny Bunch: “Trump's Whole Schtick -- The Entire Basis Of His Popularity -- Is That No One In Politics Has Leverage Over Him.”

Trump's whole shtick--the entire basis of his popularity--is that no one in politics has leverage over him. https://t.co/Car05IW8yJ

-- Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) February 25, 2016

If Trump is the nominee, the RNC should spend every dime it has on Senate and House races. Let Donald do his thing.

-- Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) February 25, 2016

[Twitter.com, 2/25/16; 2/25/16]

Time's Dan Hirschhorn Mocks RNC's Plan Calling It “From The Department Of Wishful Thinking.”

From the Department of Wishful Thinking https://t.co/BWFfVLS4Ng

-- Dan Hirschhorn (@DanH_TIME) February 25, 2016

[Twitter.com, 2/25/16]

National Journal's Josh Kraushaar: “This Is Delusional.”

This is delusional https://t.co/C5aAhLKEI5

-- Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) February 25, 2016

[Twitter.com, 2/25/16]