Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says the GOP primary is over, urging a ’sandwich’ strategy for the Trump campaign in the long general election campaign ahead
A recent op-ed penned by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich delves into what he says ought to be former President Donald Trump’s strategic approach for the upcoming 2024 election—a tactic he dubs the “sandwich” strategy.
This unique approach, as outlined by Mr. Gingrich, is motivated in part by President Trump’s recent victories in Iowa and New Hampshire. He says the outcome basically means the 2024 primary season is over and America is “now living through the longest general election campaign in history.”
“No one has ever tried to have a national conversation for 286 days before an election,” Mr. Gingrich writes, noting that this poses some unique challenges to President Trump’s campaign.
A drawn-out primary that would have provided fodder for media coverage is now absent. When combined with a national audience with a high capacity for boredom, Mr. Gingrich argues that this means the news establishment has fallen into a “state of shock” and is desperate for news hooks that will draw in an audience.
This means “there will be constant pressure to find something negative with which to attack and undermine the Trump campaign in particular—and Republicans in general.”
In order to counter what Mr. Gingrich predicts will be an effort by some media outlets to bombard Americans with negative Trump coverage, the former speaker recommends a “simple model to follow that will create a trap in which to capture the Biden record.”
“Essentially, it’s a sandwich,” he says.
The ‘Sandwich’ Strategy
One great advantage of the nomination campaign being all but finished is the fact that President Trump and his team will now have time to develop positive themes, Mr. Gingrich argues, setting the stage for the “sandwich” strategy.
For the bottom piece of bread, Mr. Gingrich suggests the former president’s campaign revisit the achievements of President Trump’s first term in office.
Drawing on the unique position of having been commander-in-chief, President Trump can articulate his accomplishments, such as fostering economic growth, achieving energy independence, controlling inflation, securing borders, supporting law enforcement, and effectively managing international relations.
By Tom Ozimek
