President Trump took a victory lap in Iowa on Wednesday night — boasting that Republicans were “5-0 in special elections” — after…
President Trump took a victory lap in Iowa on Wednesday night — boasting that Republicans were “5-0 in special elections” — after notching wins in South Carolina and Georgia.
Speaking at a campaign-style rally in Cedar Rapids, the commander-in-chief claimed that GOP candidates had gone undefeated in 2017, despite Democrats scoring a victory in California’s 34th Congressional district back in April.
He appears to be counting Tuesday’s race for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District as two wins, instead of one — due to the fact that a runoff was held.
“We’ re 5-0 in special elections, ” Trump told the crowd at Kirkwood Community College.
“The truth is, people love us, ” he said. “They haven’ t figured it out yet.”
The president went on to congratulate Karen Handel and Ralph Norman on their respective victories in Georgia and South Carolina on Tuesday night.
“Karen is going to be really incredible, ” he said. “And we can’ t forget Ralph Norman in South Carolina.”
Trump also blasted Democrats for pouring money into the congressional elections — specifically in Georgia, which witnessed the most expensive House race in history.
“They spent close to 30 million dollars on this kid who forgot to live in the community that he was in, ” Trump said of Jon Ossoff, Handel’s opponent in the 6th Congressional District, who lost by a margin of 52.13 percent to 47.87 percent.
“And if Karen Handel had lost, [the media] would have blamed it on me, which is fine, ” he added.
Describing Norman’s win in South Carolina’s 5th District, Trump recalled a phone conversation he had with him prior to the election.
“He called me and I called him, ” the president remembered. “He said, ‘You know what? I felt like the forgotten man.’ But he won beautifully. A lot of people didn’ t show up because they thought he would win.”
“It is great to be back in the incredible, beautiful state of Iowa, ” he said Tuesday at the start of his speech.
“It’s always terrific to be able to leave that Washington swamp and spend time with the truly hard working people we call American Patriots, truly amazing people.”
President Trump also made sure to send well wishes to Rep. Steve Scalise, who is still recovering from last week’s congressional baseball practice shooting.
“We’ re praying for you, we’ re pulling for you, ” Trump said. “You have our full support.”
With Post wires
