Trump slot machine 2020 in bad condition

President Donald Trump wants to raise $ 1 billion for his re-election. But his main advisers are worried that the super PAC at the center of this effort suffers, for lack of a leader to the high power that can cajole billionaire and billionaire donors to pay huge sums.

Trump's political advisors, family members of the president and the great Republicans have considered potential candidates to lead America First Action's fundraising efforts in 2020. They want someone who has deep ties with the president and the club of the main donors of the GOP.

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But research at the national level has up to now been futile. The Super PAC organizers have at one point made a list of about two dozen names, including Robert Kraft, which has never been seriously considered, but which has nonetheless been canceled after the owner of the New England Patriots – an appointment at the presidential station in Mar-a-Lago – has been accused of soliciting prostitution. Kelly Craft, a GOP benefactor, was also selected, but she was dismissed after being appointed UN ambassador.

Then there is Nick Ayers. Former head of the White House close to many major Republican donors, he was supposed to hold a high-profile advisory role to the super PAC after his departure from the administration at the end of last year. Ayers, 36, who spent the last few months with his family and hunted quail in Georgia, has not signed yet.

A large number of people considered good for the job are related to administrative positions. Woody Johnson, former owner of the New York Jets and chairman of the Jeb Bush 2016 board of directors, is ambassador to the United Kingdom. Kellyanne Conway and Johnny DeStefano, two senior White House advisers, were mentioned, although there are doubts about the success of the group.

In-depth research has reinforced growing concerns about America First Action. During interviews, nearly a dozen people close to the president described this system as the soft underbelly of a fast-growing three-tier Trump re-election machine. More than 30 people were hired during the campaign and the Republican National Committee has begun to set up an ambitious exit program, but many are convinced that the two-year-old America First Action does not never received the required attention, and not ready for the fire of the presidential reelection campaign.

The super PAC and its non-profit ally, America First Policies, raised more than $ 75 million in the mid-term in 2018 – a respectable figure, but below the $ 100 million target It was fixed. Trump's aides say they're counting on the group to raise between $ 300 and $ 400 million for the 2020 campaign. But that will require a high-level envoy for conservative donors.

"A great PAC is complementary to the party and the campaign. So it's a three-legged stool. And you can not sit on a stool unless you have three legs, "said Bradley Blakeman, founder of Freedom's Watch, a conservative group active in the last few years of the George W. Bush White House. "You must have the ability to raise funds from all possible funds for the purpose of electing Republicans in 2020 – especially the president. The pressure is great. And that's not something you want to have done, it's something you must have done. "

Republican officials are struggling to fill the vacancy created when Trump family businessman and friend Tommy Hicks Jr. stepped down from the presidency of America First Action to occupy a leadership position with the RNC. The vacuum comes as billionaire Democrats wanting to defeat Trump are ready to pour millions of dollars into Liberal-aligned super PACs.

Roy Bailey, a senior fundraiser for America First Action, said the group was "in a period of transition".

"I think we will strengthen our organization internally in the coming months," he added.

Research has become increasingly urgent in recent weeks because of the uncertainty surrounding Ayers, who was considered the main candidate for the position. Ayers, former chief of staff Mike Pence's chief of staff, is close to many of the party's major donors. He asked for clarification as to how his communications with Pence and other government officials would be restricted, if at all, if he assumed a role with the super PAC. Federal laws limit the ability of outside groups and party leaders to coordinate their activities.

Ayers, accompanied by Trump Campaign Director Brad Parscale and America First Action President Brian O. Walsh, recently met with lawyers at Jones Day in Washington. The group discussed legal issues relating to the Super PAC, including rules governing communication, according to several people familiar with the discussion.

"I'd like Nick to do it – it might be great if he did it, but he told people that he wanted to think about it for a while," said committee member Doug Deason. from America First Action, who has been in contact with Ayers.

Deason and Bailey met Tuesday for lunch to determine who could lead the group. But both had trouble finding a name.

"They are not technically equipped [for 2020] until they get a president in place. That will not be as effective as it has been until they get a chair, "Deason said. "Once they've done that, they'll be back in the throat. It just helps to have that key person in charge. "

However, "they do not seem to have any promising prospects at the moment," he added.

For now, the group relies heavily on Walsh, a 42-year-old Republican strategist who, as president, oversees the day-to-day operations of the super PAC. Walsh, who has worked for a range of conservative candidates and outside groups and has been praised by top Trump campaigners, declined to say who could hold the position of president.

"America First Action did not exist in 2016. Yet, in less than two years, we have raised tens of millions of dollars, set a winning record midway through and have firmly established ourselves as the top super CAP to support President Trump. – election, "said Walsh in a statement. "We are making some adjustments, but we greatly appreciate the support we have received and look forward to building on the success of the last cycle to help re-elect President Donald J. Trump in 2020".

Republican officials want the super PAC to replicate the success of Priorities USA. During Barack Obama's successful re-election campaign in 2012, the Liberal Super PAC invested tens of millions of dollars in television commercials attacking Republican candidate Mitt Romney during his venture capital career. Senior party officials hope America First Action will accumulate money over the next year in anticipation of an overblown blitz against the potential Democratic candidate.

Yet America First Action has faced many complications. After Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, left the White House in 2017, the rumor spread that he wanted to create his own group. This caused confusion among donors who wondered whether the group planned by America First Action or Bannon was the main pro-Trump group.

There has also been a multitude of departures of senior executives. Ayers had helped lead the group but left in 2017 to become Pence's chief of staff. Parscale left the super PAC last year to become Trump's campaign manager. And Rick Gates, a Trump 2016 campaign assistant who was later involved in the investigation of a special advocate, left America First Action early after helping found the group. Walsh was asked in April 2017 to bring some stability to the super PAC.

At the end of the 2018 campaign, America First Action managed to organize carefully designed events with Trump, Pence and several cabinet members. And some actions are planned for 2020: Walsh recently contacted the White House in hopes of organizing an event with the President, and Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., is scheduled for a fundraiser for the Super PAC. March 12 The city of New York.

Still, questions remain.

Republican leaders discuss the possibility that other pro-Trump groups will emerge if America First Action's leadership situation is not resolved quickly. This could blur the constellation of conservative outside groups and raise questions about the choice of organizations that favor Trump.

"A strong super PAC can make a huge difference," said Rick Reed, a Trump 2016 advisor who helped lead John Kerry's attacks on the Swift Boat for Truth attacks in 2004. "I hope that" There will be more than one. "