If infighting continues over a potential Donald Trump nomination, Republicans could lose not only the White House, but also their congressional majorities, Republican strategist Frank Luntz warned Friday.
"You can't have that fight," Luntz told CBS News'
"This Morning" program, while talking about House Speaker Paul Ryan's hesitation to support Trump until more work is done to unify the party.
"If you have that fight, then the Republicans are in trouble," said Luntz. "The fact Paul Ryan did not give his endorsement is a signal to Donald Trump that he has some work to do.
"However, if they end up not working together, I can promise you not just a Democratic president, but a Democratic Senate. If they continue to fight, you could even see a Democratic House."
Luntz commented that in his career of more than 30 years, he has not seen such a challenge when it comes to Trump's nomination, and it comes at a time "when Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presumptive nominee, is weaker than any Democratic nominee in the last 50 years."
"I've been doing focus groups in the last couple weeks, and there will be Republicans who are furious at a member of Congress or senator that doesn't support Donald Trump," said Luntz.
"For the GOP to be successful in November, they have to walk that narrow tightrope between turning on conservatives and appealing to independents."
There is also the issue of the finances Trump will need to mount a national campaign as the GOP nominee. He's so far self-financed his own campaign, but now there is a challenge, said Luntz.
"I actually think less Republican money will flow to Trump and Trump will do better among working class voters who don't have the money to contribute," said Luntz.
At the same time, there are people who traditionally vote Democratic, such as in Pennsylvania, and Trump is the first GOP nominee they've picked.
"There are certainly some big-level voters who for the first time are not putting their money behind the Republican candidates," said Luntz.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are also not yet unified behind their eventual nominee, said Luntz.
"Who would have thought that Trump would secure the nomination even before Clinton did?" said Luntz. "The fact that Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton in Indiana tells you that she still hasn't unified Democrats.
"We are seeing the fracturing of politics on the left and on the right, and right now there is no way to provide an accurate prognostication of what happens in the fall. Any outcome is possible."
Related Stories:
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.