Republicans in Michigan figured out they can't win by talking about the guy who picked them. Trump slapped tariffs on everything that moves and almost started a war with Iran. Now his Senate candidates pretend he doesn't exist.
The strategy makes perfect sense. Run in a primary as Trump's most loyal bootlicker. Win by 40 points. Then cut ads where you frown at a factory and talk about "Michigan values" without saying his name once. Voters love authenticity.
Tariffs poll worse than gas station sushi in swing states. Turns out people who work in manufacturing don't enjoy watching their supply chains explode because Trump wanted to look tough at a rally. Iran war talk polls even worse. Michigan has one of the largest Arab American populations in the country. Threatening to bomb Tehran is not a winning message in Dearborn.
So Republican consultants made a choice. They're running ads about inflation and crime and the border. They're not running ads about how their candidate would follow Trump into whatever deranged policy bunker he builds next. They're hoping voters suffer selective amnesia between now and November.
The funniest part is these candidates can't actually break from Trump. They need him to show up and hold a rally so his base turns out. But they also need him to shut the f*ck up about policy so suburban voters don't remember he exists. It's a delicate balance. Like trying to sell a house while the previous owner is still living in the basement screaming about trade deficits.
This is what happens when your kingmaker becomes your liability. You nominated him. You campaigned with him. You defended every unhinged decision he made. Now you're cutting ads like he's a distant uncle you see at Thanksgiving but never mention at work.
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