Political figures reacted to former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of “Eric” in Missouri’s Republican primary contest for the U.S. Senate, which came after Trump bashed Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s campaign, noting the “great dishonesty in politics” over a poll that deliberately undercounts support for Trump.
Trump endorsed “Eric” Monday, the day before the state’s August 2 primaries, but did so in a teasing way, generically endorsing “Eric” in the race pitting former Gov. Eric Greitens (R-MO) against Eric Schmitt.
“We must send a MAGA Champion and True Warrior to the U.S. Senate, someone who will fight for border security, Election Integrity, our Military and Great Veterans, together with having a powerful toughness on Crime and the Border,” Trump said in a statement, adding that this individual must not back down to the “Radical Left Lunatics who are destroying our Country.”
“I trust the great People of Missouri, on this one, to make up their own minds, much as they did when they gave me landslide victories in the 2016 and 2020 Elections, and I am therefore proud to announce that ERIC has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” he added:
45: I trust the Great People of Missouri, on this one, to make up their own minds, much as they did when they gave me landslide victories in the 2016 and 2020 Elections, and I am therefore proud to announce that ERIC has my Complete and Total Endorsement! pic.twitter.com/CQFCphP9BO
— Taylor Budowich (@TayFromCA) August 1, 2022
Greitens was quick to tout the endorsement, as it generated a buzz from others who deemed it “one of the greatest trolls of all time.”
Trump trolls #MOsen — Greitens denied endorsement needed to save his poll-plummeting campaign https://t.co/wu58TWfHnh #2A
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 1, 2022
Honored to have the support of President Trump! We will MAGA! ?? pic.twitter.com/NljSJqEQG5
— Eric Greitens (@EricGreitens) August 1, 2022
I’m honored to receive President Trump’s endorsement. From the beginning, I’ve been the true MAGA Champion fighting against the RINO establishment backing Schmitt.
President Trump said it best when he characterized Schmitt’s campaign as ‘great dishonesty in politics.’
— Eric Greitens (@EricGreitens) August 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/CortesSteve/status/1554240056948301824
Trump makes a joke of Missouri Republican Senate endorsement. Race is down to Eric Schmitt vs. Eric Greitens. Trump announces that ‘ERIC has my Complete and Total Endorsement!’ pic.twitter.com/TLcnmgX6Yh
— Byron York (@ByronYork) August 1, 2022
President Trump just gave his blessing to BOTH top candidates named Eric in the Missouri Senate race.
Congratulations to @Eric_Schmitt and @EricGreitens on receiving the coveted Trump Endorsement! pic.twitter.com/HLBxfPSAkn
— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) August 1, 2022
Trump endorses “Eric” in Missouri GOP Senate race.
But there are two Eric’s …
Is it @EricGreitens or @Eric_Schmitt? pic.twitter.com/Rxf5kqpois
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 1, 2022
In Missouri’s Senate race GOP primary, Trump endorses “ERIC”
Greitens or Schmitt? Reader beware…you choose the scare! pic.twitter.com/LJF8K6uyqF
— Jacob “Inside Elections is hiring” Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) August 1, 2022
Trump endorses “Eric” in Missouri’s GOP Senate Primary.
Attorney Gen. Eric Schmitt & fmr Gov. Eric Greitens are both running in tomorrow’s primary.
Follow @yamiche who is on the ground in Missouri & caught up with AG Eric earlier this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/4eqHEx2Dj1
— Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) August 1, 2022
Trump endorses ERIC pic.twitter.com/7vTNzPXFMj
— Jason Rosenbaum (@jrosenbaum) August 1, 2022
Two Republicans are running in the Missouri GOP primary for the US Senate, both named “Eric”- Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Stable genius Trump just endorsed “Eric”, but didn’t say which one. Both are now claiming Trump’s endorsement. The MAGA sh*t show continues. pic.twitter.com/91UPObsjyS
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) August 1, 2022
The endorsement comes as support for Greitens grows, maintaining his lead in the state’s primary contest. Over the weekend, Greitens’ campaign shared the results of a private survey with Breitbart News, showing him leading his closest competitor, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, by four percentage points:
The survey has reached out to a staggering 513,245 voters as of Friday night, engaging 23 percent of the half a million individuals in live phone calls. Of the more than 100,000 live voters contacted, a strong 34 percent say they are supporting Greitens in the primary, giving him a four percentage point lead over his next closest competitor, Missouri Attorney general Eric Schmitt, who took 30 percent of the response. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), whom former President Donald J. Trump has said he is not endorsing, received support from 21 percent of poll participants.
Each of the three candidates gained one percentage point in support from numbers Breitbart News published from the same running survey Friday, which covered figures tabulated as of Thursday night. It showed Greitens at 33 percent, Schmitt at 29 percent, and Hartzler at 20 percent. In other words, no one has gained ground on Greitens. Undecided voters made up 12 percent of the response as of Thursday’s numbers published on Friday, but the latest information reveals the demographic is starting to dwindle with Tuesday’s election just days out. Currently, 10 percent of respondents are unsure who they will back.
Greitens spoke with Breitbart News Saturday over the weekend, describing Schmitt as a “RINO.”
“Look, the RINOs are lying, and the RINO lie you won’t be… surprised… is: ‘We need a RINO to win.’ The fact is I am a MAGA candidate, and Missouri is a pro-Trump state,” he said during an appearance on the show, describing Missouri as an “America First state.”
“It’s not just what you see in your gut with all of these folks coming out supporting President Trump, supporting Eric Greitens, supporting the America First movement – quantitatively, you look at neutral observers – folks like Decision Desk, FiveThirtyEight – they’ve come out with a general election analysis which says ‘Eric Greitens is the overwhelming favorite to win the general election. He’s going to win 97 out of 100 iterations,’” he said, adding that the “RINO lie has been completely blown out of the water.”
The Missouri primary takes place Tuesday, August 2.
