Donald Trump's approach to the Republican primaries is similar to what put Democrat Jimmy Carter in the White House in 1976, Ronald Reagan historian Craig Shirley told
Newsmax TV on Tuesday.
"Trump's strategy is somewhat reminiscent of Jimmy Carter's strategy of 1976, which was to basically run everywhere and thereby strain together always a win on primary night," he told host J.D. Hayworth on "America Votes: 2016" in an interview.
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"Yet, he puts together a storyline of always moving toward the nomination of always winning. Carter in '76 would run in Indiana but not in California, would run in Ohio but not in North Carolina.
"Primary after primary after primary, Carter ran everywhere," Shirley said. "He didn't win everywhere, he didn't win every primary night on every Tuesday, but he won almost every night every Tuesday someplace — and thereby put together a storyline and that's what Trump is doing."
He noted that Marco Rubio "put all his eggs in Florida but no place else" and Ted Cruz "put all his eggs in Texas but didn't do other states," whereas Trump is running everywhere.
"He continues building that exorability that he's going to be the eventual nominee."
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