Of course there will be those who simply follow the president’s lead, he noted. “But I think most people probably have a wait-and-see attitude, which is, ‘Well, he’s got to prove to me that he’s really Republican now, and this just wasn’t done opportunistically,’ which I don’t think he’s going to be able to prove, because that’s exactly what this is,” Mr. Richter said.
Ron Filan, Mr. Van Drew’s campaign manager, said in a statement, “If David has any question as to Congressman Van Drew’s relationship with the voters of South Jersey, I’d invite David to sign up for a ticket and see the response Jeff Van Drew gets when President Trump comes to support him in Wildwood later this month.”
Mr. Richter is doing what any textbook would probably advise at a moment like this: Drum up one’s lifelong Republican bona fides. Remind voters of all the times the other guy stood with Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Stay optimistic that Republicans in this district “care about the issues” and “the principles they believe in.”
But this is not a textbook time.
At a gathering of local Republicans at a Margate City restaurant this week, Mr. Richter introduced James Toto, a Somers Point councilman who was among the first officials to endorse him.
Mr. Toto should say he’s still all in for Mr. Richter. That Mr. Van Drew’s switch meant nothing, that of course he’d love to oblige the president, but that he already pledged his support elsewhere.
But after Mr. Richter walked away, Mr. Toto, leaning against the bar, admitted he was no longer so sure.
“I support our president. And this is what the president wishes,” he said of voting for Mr. Van Drew.
Mr. Toto then clutched his chest. “How,” he asked, “do I go against what the president stands for?”