In his new book, American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump, Politico reporter Tim Alberta writes about the election of 2016, and the lead up to President Donald Trump.
In it, he writes about how various elected reps changed their positions on Trump — which of course is a common occurrence in any primary.
Recently on Jonah Goldberg’s podcast, “The Remnant”, Alberta described the circumstance with then-Congressman (now-Secretary of State) Mike Pompeo and Trump, and how he is surprised this hasn’t become a bigger thing — much like how the episode with Paul Ryan has blown up. The setting Alberta describes gets into the scene at the convention, Trump’s campaign staff, and a fiery Mike Pompeo.
Fascinating stuff, especially as Kansas politicos wait for a final decision on a Senate run from Pompeo — a decision that will reverberate through statewide politics for years to come.
Hear the whole podcast on “The Remnant” here.
Get American Carnage, at Amazon, here.
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What does this mean for a possible Pompeo candidacy? Probably not much.
Pompeo has clearly made his peace with Trump, and Trump considers Pompeo to be one of his top advisors.
But with the now-candidacy of State Senate President Susan Wagle, it makes the idea of a Pompeo candidacy seemingly less likely. She told the KCStar’s Bryan Lowry (in a story that doesn’t even make the front page of the Star’s online site?) that she “had a conversation last week” with Pompeo.”
Add that to the fact that Kathleen Sebelius says she will not run, and it does make you wonder how much Senator Mitch McConnell would really need a Pompeo candidacy — one that would be a sure-win, for a popular candidate.
Though it doesn’t account for what Pompeo’s future plans are.
If and when a Rep. Roger Marshall candidacy drops — which will cause many other dominoes to fall in the 1st District — might give a better indication of a Pompeo run.
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