While Vicky Hartzler has run a valiant campaign and would be a fine senator, tomorrow’s Missouri Senate Republican primary has narrowed to a choice between Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. The choice, for anyone who cares about conservative policy, Republican partisan interests, or conscience, decency, or character in public office is obvious: Eric Schmitt is far superior to Eric Greitens.
Donald Trump has weighed in, and he is hedging his bets. He endorsed “ERIC”:
Trump endorses “ERIC” without saying whether it’s Greitens or Schmitt. A truly bizarre ending to the battle of Erics. pic.twitter.com/FTIBWsZG5r
— Bryan Lowry (@BryanLowry3) August 1, 2022
Schmitt accepted:
🚨President Donald Trump Endorses ERIC SCHMITT for U.S. Senate🚨
Statement from @Eric_Schmitt: “It is truly an honor to have President Trump’s endorsement in the Senate race. pic.twitter.com/WkHi6o0qDE
— Team Schmitt for US Senate (@Schmitt4Senate) August 1, 2022
So did Greitens:
https://twitter.com/EricGreitens/status/1554235285973655552
As a piece of Kodos-or-Kang performance art on Trump’s part, this was brilliantly hilarious. As an act of serious statesmanship, it was cowardly and contemptible. Trump knows perfectly well how this will play, and that it allows him to claim a win later while putting nothing at risk, neither his skill at picking winners nor his standing with the transgressive voters who prefer Greitens precisely because he is a man of visibly bad character.
On the outside looking in, Trump is still funny. But he should leave governing to the adults.