Republicans in storm-hit states are strolling a tightrope as they work with a Democratic White Home to assist their states get well from election-season, back-to-back hurricanes whereas managing the optics of showing too near a celebration their base despises.
The affected states, primarily Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, are filled with GOP heavyweights who’ve provided blended opinions of President Joe Biden’s hurricane response. Doing something to hinder federal support might gradual their state’s restoration, hurting their report and opening themselves as much as assaults; cozying as much as Biden dangers tarnishing their social gathering credentials with conservative voters who might punish them down the street.
Catastrophe politics have reared their head prior to now.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s heat greeting of then-President Barack Obama on a tarmac within the thick of the 2012 race after Hurricane Sandy led to a conservative outcry that was referenced at occasions even throughout his 2024 presidential run. Then-GOP Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s hug with Obama recent off the 2008 race as a part of the White Home’s tour touting its plan for recession restoration basically ended his future in Republican politics.
Former President Barack Obama (R) is greeted by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie upon arriving in Atlantic Metropolis, N.J., on Oct. 31, 2012 to go to areas hardest hit by cyclone Sandy.
Jewel Samad/AFP by way of Getty Photos, FILE
“I believe voters usually are forgiving, even these staunchest conservatives, are forgiving of their Republican governor needing to coordinate with the White Home to guard the well being, security and welfare of the residents. However there is a distinction between doing that after which being overly obsequious with a president from a unique social gathering,” stated one Florida GOP operative.
“It is a bit of a balancing act. I do not suppose that any of those Republican governors are reticent to talk to Biden. In truth, it is their job. They want to try this,” the individual stated. “However are they extra measured or cautious about publicly bro-hugging like Christie and Obama did on the tarmac? I am positive that can by no means occur once more.”
Republicans putting that stability embody Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis.
DeSantis has been in contact with Biden however has prevented showing in his state with the president and engaged in a spat with Vice President Kamala Harris over their lack of communication, buying and selling barbs of politicizing the disaster. Kemp has thanked Biden for the federal response but additionally declined to be seen with Biden — whereas making a joint look with former President Donald Trump. And Tillis initially praised federal efforts earlier than extra not too long ago saying assets are “transferring somewhat bit extra slowly than I would hope.”
The twin storms of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which wrought devastation throughout three states with outsized electoral sway, are happening lower than a month earlier than Election Day and as some voters are already casting ballots.
Republicans are detest to supply Harris any reward earlier than Nov. 5, cautious of bolstering any claims she has of bipartisan bona fides in a race that is on the knife’s edge.
Trump can be hammering the White Home for its response, which the Florida operative stated “most likely” limits different Republicans’ bandwidth for optimistic opinions of the federal response.
A automobile sits half-buried in sand as Bradenton Seashore, Fla., which was within the strategy of cleansing up after Hurricane Helene, as Hurricane Milton approached on Anna Maria Island, Oct. 8, 2024.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
However there are additionally extra private objectives to bear in mind.
Tillis is up for reelection in two years in what shall be one of many 2026 election cycle’s marquee Senate races. Kemp is rumored to be contemplating a run for Senate in opposition to Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, that yr or retaining choices open for a White Home run down the road. And DeSantis, whose personal presidential marketing campaign sputtered this yr, might make a second run.
That makes appearances of being chummy with Harris not solely unhelpful this yr but additionally private vulnerabilities in future cycles.
“Elected Republicans are petrified of being labeled a RINO. The Republican base views Democrats because the enemy and why would you ever hug your enemy except you have been mushy on them?” stated GOP strategist Alex Conant, referencing a modern-day slur for “Republican In Title Solely.”
Christie’s expertise operating in cycles after Sandy presents a cautionary story for Republicans.
To make certain, Christie’s dealing with of the storm helped him win reelection in a hostile state, and had he shunned the federal authorities, he might’ve gotten tagged for politicizing the historic storm within the different course.
However the “hug” with Obama remained an assault line even 12 years later.
Mike DuHaime, a prime Christie ally who labored on his 2016 and 2024 White Home bids, stated the hurricane response was not solely chargeable for tanking the marketing campaign however that complaints about it have been heard, particularly the farther Christie traveled from the Northeast.
For his or her half, key Republicans have insisted politics aren’t at play.
Kemp, whereas pushing for extra counties to be added to the federal catastrophe declaration checklist, has made some extent of thanking Biden for his assist. And even amid his feud with Harris, DeSantis has stated that he has labored properly prior to now with presidents of each events throughout disasters, insisting it’s the vice chairman who’s politicizing the state of affairs.
And interactions with Biden and Harris this yr are usually not fairly an apples-to-apples comparability to Christie’s hurricane response with Obama 12 years in the past.
For one factor, Harris will not be a sitting president operating for a second time period, providing Republicans extra bandwidth to keep away from showing along with her with out wanting as in the event that they’re politicizing the restoration.
“The buck stops with the president,” stated Dave Tamasi, a GOP lobbyist and Christie ally. “I do not suppose most individuals suppose, and I say this with out attempting to be disrespectful, however I do not suppose most individuals consider the vice chairman, even when that individual’s operating for workplace for president, as the choice maker in terms of hurricanes and response administration.”
Biden himself has additionally praised native Republicans, together with saying DeSantis has been “very gracious.”
A home, prime proper, sits toppled off its stilts after the passage of Hurricane Milton, alongside an empty lot the place a house was swept away by Hurricane Helene, in Bradenton Seashore on Anna Maria Island, Fla., Oct. 10, 2024.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Some Republicans added that DeSantis’ spat with Harris has opened an assault line accusing her of being the one to politicize the response, significantly amid GOP claims that the vice chairman was much less concerned in earlier disasters and that Biden has been in contact with key lawmakers.
DeSantis has “a reasonably good BS sniffer, and Kamala calling in the midst of all this, just about felt like a BS crimson flag, as a result of he simply talked to the president,” stated GOP strategist Chip Saltsman.
And, in line with some strategists who spoke with ABC Information, parallels to Christie’s 2012 response have been overblown. Christie’s true downfall was his centrism, they claimed, and efficient dealing with of a hurricane is a precedence for voters, and doing so shall be seen kindly in future races.
“I do not suppose there’s actually any political threat, for any member of any social gathering, to be a powerful chief and be an efficient government for state that is going by way of a disaster,” stated GOP pollster Robert Blizzard, who polled former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s dealing with of pure disasters within the 2016 GOP main and located no hurt from working with the Obama administration.
In the long run, lawmakers shall be judged it doesn’t matter what, DuHaime stated — so Republicans ought to simply concentrate on serving to their constituents as a lot as they will.
“You do the suitable factor, present in your constituents, after which let folks decide nonetheless,” he informed ABC Information.
“There have been some main voters who vilified [Christie] in years to come back. However on the finish of the day, for those who ask me, these are those taking part in politics. These are the people who find themselves mainly saying you must put politics forward of your constituents, as for those who ought to flip down assist from the federal authorities when your constituents are in want.”
