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Opinion: This week's elections have shown that Donald Trump may not be able to deliver a win for Kari Lake. ButMatt Salmon can.

Mehmet Oz, the Trump-endorsed Senate candidate, deadlocked in a race too close to call in Pennsylvania.

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, dumped by North Carolina voters despite Donald Trumps plea that he be given a second chance.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little, crushing his Trump-endorsed opponent in a state Trump owned in 2020.

And in Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp, holdinga 30-pointlead over his Trump-endorsed challenger, former Sen. David Perdue, going into next weeks primary election.

Its enough to give Kari Lake chills. Or it would be, if only she didnt have her ace in the hole, Matt Salmon.

This weeks primary elections showed that a Trump endorsement isnt what it used to be.

The message is that Trump delivers 30% to maybe 35% of the electorate, longtime Republican consultant Chuck Coughlin told me. Thats not enough.

Even Trump seems to recognize his waning influence. CNN is reporting that the former president may hold off on making more primary endorsements given this weeks losses.

Hell be a lot more selective for sure, a former Trump campaign official told the cable network.

Of course, its not all bad news for Trump.

J.D. Vance, his anointed Senate candidate in Ohio, won a crowded Republican primary earlier this month. Trump also racked up a win this week in the crowded Republican Pennsylvania governors race, with state Rep. Doug Mastriano.

But Trumps endorsement in that race came late, whenMastriano was already ahead in the polls. And Mastriano won with the help of Democrats who see the states loudest election denier as the easiest to beat in a general election. (Democrats actually sent out mailers boosting him.)

Its the same reason Democrats in Arizona are rooting for Lake to win the states Republican Aug. 2 primary for governor. They see her and probablyonly her as the Republican who Democrat Katie Hobbs can beat in November.

Which is why longtime Republican strategists are rooting for anybody but Lake.

Shes the Mastriano of Arizona, 100%, GOP consultant Chris Baker told me.

Republican consultant Tyler Montague was more direct.

Shes definitely the Republican Partys best chance to lose, he said.

Another view: If an election denier can win, Kari Lake must be a shoo-in

The problem for Lake is simple: Her scorched-earth campaign is wildly popular with about a third of the Republican Party, but shes been unable to grow her base of support much beyond 35%. Based on results of other races around the country this week,it doesnt appear that Trump can help her.

But Matt Salmon can. The former congressman is running third in the polls, behind Lake and businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson.While he has loads of detailed policy proposals that Repubicans should love, he doesnt appear to have the strategy or the money to make his casewith Republican primary voters.

If Salmon really wants to see a Republican governor, he should get out of the race and throw his support to Robson, whose views pretty much track his own.

Yet there he is, determined to stick it out in a three-way that could well hand the nomination to Lake.

And the Governors Office to Hobbs in a year when Republicans should be mopping up.

If he is thinking clearly, he should do whatever it takes to beat Lake, Montague said. But thats not happening.

Instead, Salmon this week announced that hes received the coveted endorsement of former Rep. Trent Franks, who when last seen publicly was resigning his seat amid complaints that he was asking female staffers to have his baby.

Maybe Club for Growth will come riding to Salmons rescue and pump millions into his campaignto help propel him to victory. Or maybe Robson will pull enough millions out of her own pocket to overtake Lakes leadin a three-way race.

More likely, Robson and Salmon will split the non-Trumpvoteand Lake will win the nomination with Trumps diehard supporters.

If so, no one will be cheering louder than Democrats.

This week has shown that Donald Trump may not be able to deliver for Kari Lake.

Butclearly, Matt Salmon can.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts.

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Originally posted here:
Donald Trump's endorsement clearly isn't what it used to be. Just look at Kari Lake - The Arizona Republic