President Donald Trump gave a full-throated endorsement to Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker on Tuesday, giving the incumbent an improvement one day before he’s most likely to obtain high-profile primary challenge.
The endorsement is actually a blow to Wicker’s soon-to-be opponent, conservative state Sen. Chris McDaniel, whose bid rests heavily on winning above the president’s core supporters.
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“.@SenatorWicker of Mississippi has become a great supporter and incredible assistance with getting our massive Tax Cut Bill done and approved,” Trump tweeted. “Also big help on cutting regs. We are with him in her re-election completely!”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) lobbied Trump directly a year ago to guide Wicker’s reelection bid. When, Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was threatening to aid a McDaniel primary challenge.
McConnell renders backing imperiled incumbents such as Wicker a concern.
Whether Trump’s support will put Wicker extraordinary is definitely an open question. During the Alabama special election last year, Trump endorsed incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, only to see Strange lose overwhelmingly on the conservative favorite, Roy Moore.
McDaniel, who waged an unsuccessful 2014 primary against GOP Sen. Thad Cochran, is slated to announce his campaign on Wednesday afternoon in an appearance in Ellisville, Mississippi.
