As reports continue to swirl that the Republican Party establishment is
trying to prevent front-runner Donald Trump from getting the GOP presidential nomination, senators are preparing to echo at least part of his message should he end up atop the ticket in November.
In a private memo obtained by
The Washington Post, National Republican Senatorial Committee Executive Director Ward Baker tells senators up for re-election they should adopt some of Trump's style and message while avoiding his more controversial statements.
"Trump has risen because voters see him as authentic, independent, direct, firm, — and believe he can’t be bought," Baker says in the memo dated September 22. "These are the same character traits our candidates should be advancing in 2016. That’s Trump lesson #1."
But Baker also notes senators should avoid "wacky things about women" Trump has said.
"Candidates shouldn’t go near this ground other than to say that your wife or daughter is offended by what Trump said," Baker wrote. "We do not want to re-engage the 'war on women' fight."
Still, the memo notes, candidates should not make it appear as though the party is not unified.
"Trump is saying that the Emperor has no clothes and he challenges our politically correct times. Our candidates shouldn't miss this point," Baker wrote.
The Post said it obtained the memo from a senior Republican on condition of anonymity and confirmed it through another high-level GOP source.
The NRSC told the Post that a Trump nomination is not the only eventuality it is prepared for and that such memos also have been sent out regarding other candidates.
"It would be malpractice for the Senatorial committee not to prepare our candidates for every possible Republican and Democrat nominee and election scenario," NRSC spokeswoman Andrea Bozek told the Post.