The demonizing of White House strategist Steve Bannon – someone liberals consider President Donald Trump's puppet master, a "Karl Rove on steroids" – might reach epic proportions, and it might prove costly, a strategist told Politico.
"My guess is, the more the Democrats and news media go after Steve Bannon, the more powerful he becomes within the administration, and the more endearing he becomes to Donald Trump," Pennsylvania GOP strategist John Brabender told Politico. "It is further alienating conservative and blue collar Democrats who are thrilled with everything Trump is doing right now.
"I do not believe there is any buyer remorse among Trump voters, and when you look at the battleground states for 2018, that works to President Trump's advantage."
Rove was attacked by the left during former President George W. Bush's administration and Bannon, former Breitbart chief and self-proclaimed "platform for the alt-right," is next to held to the Democratic ire.
"It is bad enough that the president has put someone who is a pure partisan who's clearly the puppeteer here, and the president is the marionette," defamed ex-DNC chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., said, per Politico.
"We have discussed that, both in smaller groups and more broadly, how disturbing and dangerous it is that Steve Bannon has the authority that he does. I think Steve Bannon has spent decades giving license. . . . and amplification to white supremacist views."
Bannon has ignored if not struck back against the hateful rhetoric from the left.
"I'm an economic nationalist," he told The Wall Street Journal in November. "I am an America first guy. And I have admired nationalist movements throughout the world, have said repeatedly strong nations make great neighbors.
"I've also said repeatedly that the ethno-nationalist movement, prominent in Europe, will change over time. I've never been a supporter of ethno-nationalism."
Bannon is being portrayed as a "shadow president" behind President Trump's most criticized actions. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., called him "the evil genius behind the presidential throne," reported Politico.
"They need to demonize somebody, and Bannon is the perfect patsy," advisor to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Saul Anuzis told Politico. "This is pretty basic politics 101."
This "short-term" play might be one to backfire – both sides of the aisle contended to Politico.
"The Dems are looking for a bad guy, and they think by making stuff up about Bannon they can create a person their base will hate," a GOP strategist from Mississippi, Austin Barbour, told Politico.
That guy was Rove during the last GOP White House tenure. Now, it is Bannon.