OPINION:
Presumed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump took some misfired shots at Susana Martinez, the governor of New Mexico, at his rally in the state Tuesday night.
“She’s got to do a better job,” Mr. Trump told thousands of supporters. “She’s not doing the job. We’ve got to get her moving. Come on: Let’s go, governor.”
At one point, Mr. Trump said perhaps he should be running for the state’s governorship, and accused Mrs. Martinez for mishandling the economy.
Instead of focusing on Mrs. Martinez — arguably one of the most prominent Latinos in the GOP — Mr. Trump should have trained his fire on Hillary Clinton.
For it’s Mrs. Clinton who is pledging to continue President Obama’s legacy and his disastrous economic policies. Although the employment rate has ticked up under Mr. Obama’s watch, almost every other economic measure — labor force participation, real median income, food stamp recipients and the poverty level — is flat to falling.
Mr. Trump’s singular focus on Mrs. Martinez last night was concerning — not only because Mr. Trump needs to improve upon his favorability numbers among women and Hispanics, but because Mr. Trump should be viewing Mrs. Martinez as an ally, not a foe.
Mr. Trump has won the Republican nomination, so there’s no need to attack his base. He’s in the process right now of trying to win the favor of House Speaker Paul Ryan and move other reluctant conservatives and donors into his corner. Attacking Mrs. Martinez is not the way to do that. Attacking Mrs. Clinton, on the other hand is. The threat of Mrs. Clinton in the White House may be the most singular unifying force within the GOP.
The move also seems petty and plays into the left’s attacks on Mr. Trump’s perceived lack of temperament and discipline. Mrs. Martinez has yet to throw an endorsement Mr. Trump’s way — and perhaps he’s angry about it. She also skipped his rally last night, saying she was “really busy.” And reports have said in private, Mrs. Martinez is highly critical of Mr. Trump’s plan to build a wall on the Mexican border.
Still, you don’t go into her home state and start berating her because of this — you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Not to mention Mr. Trump’s public tongue-lashing may give cover to other GOP state leaders hesitant to back him.
Mrs. Martinez seemed angered by Mr. Trump’s comments.
“The Governor will not be bullied into supporting a candidate,” Martinez press secretary Mike Lonergan told The Washington Post. “Governor Martinez doesn’t care about what Donald Trump says about her — she cares about what he says he will do to help New Mexicans. She didn’t hear anything about that today.”
Mr. Trump, this is not how you unite the Republican Party. Please, focus your fire on Mrs. Clinton.
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