President Donald Trump is turning to key players from his 2016 campaign team in hopes of boosting his chances at winning reelection, Politico reports.
Trump has been reaching out to his former strategists to get their take on whether he has a shot at another term in office. Politico reports the president is relying on their advice in the final stretch of his campaign.
“Our campaign team shocked the experts, critics, and naysayers in 2016,” Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, who also worked on the 2016 team, told Politico. “We’d be crazy to not tap into their experience this time around. While our team has naturally grown from the last campaign, I’ve relied on our 2016 Trump veterans every step of the way.”
According to Politico, Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, two key players in Trump’s 2016 camp, are back in the picture. Bossie was recently called upon to help make peace between a key campaign operative, Susie Wiles, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Another 2016 staffer, Matt Oczkowski, is now overseeing voter targeting efforts in an expanded role. The son of former Iowa Gov. Eric Branstad has been enlisted to help create plans for his father to help in the state. Brian Seitchik, who was director of Arizona for Trump in 2016, received a call from the president asking about his odds in the state.
Politico reports it is Stepien who brought Bossie and Lewandowski back to the team. They were sidelined by Trump’s former campaign manager Brad Parscale.
Now, they are helping Stepien, appearing on bus tours and on TV at the president’s request. Lewandowski, who was fired as campaign manager in June 2016, filled in for the president on the fundraising trail after he tested positive for coronavirus.
Other 2016 aides working to help Trump’s reelection include Dan Scavino and Hope Hicks, as well as Jason Miller and Justin Clark.
State-level operatives from 2016 like Stitchik are also stepping up again. They are helping coordinate where Trump should hold rallies and make campaign stops.
It was Seitchik who encouraged Trump to visit conservative Yavapai County in Arizona, according to Politico. On Monday, Trump held a rally in Prescott. Former Pennsylvania GOP chair Rob Gleason urged Trump to visit his hometown of Johnstown, a trip the president made last week.
"It’s smart of the president," said Andy Surabian, an adviser to Donald Trump Jr. and a 2016 alum of the president's decision to use 2016 staffers, "to rely on the people who understand him and his movement."
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