President Donald Trump Tuesday lauded American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp for the upcoming Conservative Political Action Conference, saying there is a "big difference" in the event now that former President Barack Obama is out of office.
"Matt Schlapp and CPAC are getting ready for another exciting event," the president tweeted Tuesday morning, after Schlapp appeared on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "Big difference from those days when President Obama held the White House. You’ve come a long way Matt!"
The annual conservative event will open in Washington D.C. on Wednesday and run through Saturday. It attracts many of the nation's top conservative leaders as speakers, with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence topping off this year's extensive list.
Schlapp on Tuesday said CPAC will focus on the Republican agenda "that's had so much success."
"I think we will look at what we did last year and what's come up this year, and making sure people understand how important it is for this agenda to keep rolling," said Schlapp.
He also discussed the news that a Politico/Morning Consult poll reveals that thirty-nine percent of voters would now back the Republican candidate for Congress in their district, compared to 38 percent who would support the Democratic candidate, calling it the "CPAC bounce."
"All of these polls have shown that the Democrats had double digit, you know, wide margins going in on the generic ballot as we head closer to November," said Schlapp.
The decision to keep Republicans in office will hinge on how secure Americans feel, said Schlapp.
"They feel greater economic security and they feel like President Trump is projecting strength overseas and keeping them safe," said Schlapp. "If they continue to get the policy right, the politics will be just fine."
Further, he said, Americans are seeing the recent tax cut legislation affect their "bottom line."
"They are taking home more money in their paychecks," he said. "They are having greater opportunity on the job site and with their investments. They see their 401(k)s and their pensions going up...it's good politics when people feel better about their personal lives."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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