Nate Leupp evaluates the truncated primary rules and dynamic campaign models

What this episode covers

Charlie James: All right, this is going to get very interesting, very quickly. Let's talk with Nate Leupp. He's—Leupp, he's the chairman of the 4th District Republican Club. Nate, I know you were very close to Senator Graham. My condolences to you and all the folks that loved him. How did you find out about Senator Graham's death? Nate Leupp: I woke up at about 4:00 and made the mistake of looking over at my phone, and already just multiple text messages. And at first, I think like Congressman Norman said, you wonder if it's one of those online jokes. And start reading the stories, and come to find out that we we lost our senior senator. Charlie James: Yeah, it was—it was a very um, it was—certainly unexpected. Like I tell the story of when my wife told me, I thought she meant Mitch McConnell because that's all we've heard was, you know, Mitch McConnell was hospitalized and and then it took me a while—a few minutes to realize that no, she's actually talking about Lindsey Graham. It was very shocking. So now we go to a special primary, um, and we got a lot of people in this race. Uh, what are you looking for in a primary candidate? Nate Leupp: I'm going to backtrack on some of my positions for local and statewide races, and for this one, I'm going to say that this is a federal race. And while our senator is someone who represents us— Charlie James: Yeah. Nate Leupp: —this is a significant seat in our country, and as well as the world. So I'm actually hoping that President Trump weighs in on this. It's a very short cycle. We just went through a grueling primary. Yeah. And I hope, and I do expect President Trump to say, "South Carolina, it is your decision, but I need someone up there in the Senate and on the national stage to help me make decisions and help push my agenda." And I think that's the person that I think will make a consensus candidate. I do believe that we're going to get a consensus candidate. Charlie James: Are you hearing the same name that I'm hearing about a possible, uh, endorsement from President Trump? Nate Leupp: laughs I'm not know—I don't know if I'm allowed to say. I did get a, uh, a message from a friend in D.C. who, uh, verified the name that has been going around. It makes sense, and I—I think it's someone that both conservatives, the Freedom Caucus conservatives, all the way, uh, to some of the moderates would be accepting of this person. And I do think that that person's going to come in with a significant campaign, a significant cash, and those two things are extremely important in this four-week primary. And so while there—go ahead. Charlie James: Well, what—no, no, you. Nate Leupp: I—I think while a lot of people have the right to and will put their name in the hat, I think South Carolina, after our June 9th primary and that runoff, are already just to have a—a very calm, maybe, primary this time around. And looking to President Trump for some direction. Charlie James: So, you—you talked about this, what it's—it's going to be basically campaigning for a month, right? Nate Leupp: One—four weeks is going to require money— Charlie James: Yeah. Nate Leupp: —and an incredible campaign infrastructure. And there's very few candidates that will have both of those. Some may have one, some may have the other. So, yeah. And there are few people that are being looked to that will have both. And that's where I think, uh, the Trump team, President Trump, and even Senator Graham's staff... A lot of the previous callers have just said his staff is one of the greatest. And I can attest to that. Yeah. I sat in his office not too long ago with, uh, his legislative director. And while the person looked like they may not have even had a driver's license, I was absolutely amazed at the knowledge of someone. And we're in good hands with his staff, and that's why I think, uh, his sister being the first female senator— Charlie James: Oh, yeah. Nate Leupp: —will just lead that staff for the next few mon ...

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