Abbott sparks new White House speculation

(The hill) – Texas Governor Greg Abbott (right) drew national attention this week by sending two buses full of Latino asylum seekers from the southern border to Washington, DC, the latest move to fuel speculation that he is planning a future campaign for the White House. .

Abbott received widespread praise from fellow Republicans for his headline-grabbing gesture, and the arrival of dozens of migrants in Washington was broadcast on conservative news networks. Abbott also sparked controversy at the border with the now-repealed order directing state troops to step up truck inspections, leading to heavy traffic and protests from drivers.

The latest moves mark a bold step in a hot-button issue that is a top entertainer for Republicans by a skilled operator who reportedly has ambitions beyond Austin. And party insiders predict the latest moves, while controversial, will be welcomed by an already amplified base.

“I think so far it’s working well with Republicans because they clearly want their elected officials to be tough on illegal immigration. They want to make sure safety comes first,” said Brendan Steinhauser, a strategist of the Texas-based GOP and a member of the Texas State Guard whose unit was deployed to help set up the operation to transport migrants to Washington.

“From people I’ve spoken to, from polls I’ve seen, from anecdotal evidence of where the activists are, where the voters are, they just want to see the governor, the president and future elected leaders, Congress, be tough and take action and put safety first. And so I think they’re looking at that and saying, ‘He’s doing what he should be doing about it,’ Steinhauser added.

Abbott ordered his state’s emergency management division to bring Texas migrants to the nation’s capital in response to the Biden administration’s decision to end Title 42, a sweeping border restriction policy put in place. implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow easier deportations of migrants.

Fourteen Nicaraguan, Cuban, Venezuelan and Colombian nationals were dropped off Thursday outside the building that houses the Washington office of Fox News, which broke the story. On Wednesday, Fox News showed footage of the first busload of migrants arriving in Washington, near the US Capitol.

The migrants are all legally in the United States and are awaiting the official decision on their asylum applications. They also all voluntarily got on the bus to Washington, which the White House repeatedly reminded the public of when asked about its reaction to Abbott sending the buses.

But immigration is an issue that plays disproportionately with Republicans. A Quinnipiac University Poll in late March showed that just 9% of Americans said immigration was the most important issue facing the country. However, 19% of Republicans said it was the most important issue, the highest share behind those who cited inflation.

As Abbott’s actions on immigration this week raise his profile nationally, former President Trump’s impending decision on 2024 weighs on many Republicans, including the governor of Texas, the governor said. GOP strategist Doug Heye.

“Like so many Republicans, Governor Abbott is increasing his identity name and lobbying on issues important to the base and thereby putting himself in a position to run. But it still remains a waiting game for all those Republicans until Donald Trump decides what he will do. They are all maneuvering for a race that they may not run,” Heye said.

Abbott’s decisions quickly drew applause from other prominent Republicans who said he was putting immigration first after months of grumbling about the growing number of border crossings.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) mentioned On Wednesday, “I hope this will get the liberal elites and the Biden administration to really care about the millions of illegal aliens crossing our southern border.”

“They’re going to see, with all these people invading Washington, D.C., like they’ve invaded our border states, and that might make them realize how bad this is,” added Rep. James Comer (R-Ky .) Fox News Thursday.

In addition to ferrying the migrants by bus, Abbott had ordered inspections of trucks by state troops, which first sparked long lines at major border crossings before fueling protests from drivers. He repealed the order on Friday afternoon, but had earlier argued such inspections were necessary because he claimed the vehicles offered opportunities for contraband.

The latest maneuver drew an unexpected reaction from Democrats, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki deriding the buses as a “publicity stunt”.

But Republicans say the publicity might not necessarily be bad for Abbott.

“I think it’s hard to separate politics and government. I mean, in everything that happens, whether it’s foreign policy or domestic policy, politics and government go hand in hand. Public relations is a key aspect of governance. So I don’t see it any different than anything else,” Steinhauser said.

“There is always a sales side, a marketing side. There is always a communication plan. And there clearly was one about it. But I also think that’s just one of many things the state of Texas is doing to try to address this issue.

To be sure, not all Republicans were happy with Abbott’s recent decisions.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called the truck inspection policy “misguided” and “political theater” in a letter to Abbott on Wednesday.

“Instead, this policy will hurt consumers in Texas and the United States by skyrocketing food prices, compounding ongoing supply chain disruptions, causing mass product shortages and overwhelming businesses. Texas and American incalculable losses,” Miller said, adding that he predicts prices. will increase for limes and avocados in a week.

“Buses, and trucks, and grandstanding, oh my,” added moderate GOP commentator Charlie Sykes. “Texas’ Greg Abbott simultaneously (1) made a huge mess at the border, and (2) shocked even some conservative allies with the rudeness of his stunt of immigrants on a bus.”

Still, Abbott’s unique position as governor of a border state offers him a chance to differentiate himself from other Republicans, which could be a boon if he faces a presidential run in 2024.

Abbott leaned into the culture wars during his re-election bid, bolstering his uncompromising good faith on issues like abortion, gun rights and “election integrity” to successfully fend off major challenges from his right earlier this year. However, the tough new policies he has implemented have garnered national attention and fueled speculation that he has his eye on the White House.

In a sign of immigration’s power as a corner issue, other top Republicans, including potential 2024 candidates, have pounced on the White House’s handling of Title 42.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (right) warned migrants on the bus to DC not to try to get to his state after some said they were hoping to get to Miami.

“Life won’t be easy for you, because we’re obligated to abide by the immigration laws of this country, even though our federal government and other states won’t,” DeSantis’ office told Wednesday. FoxNews.

Dave Carney, Abbott’s political consultant, told The Hill the governor is focused solely on his re-election bid this year, when he faces former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas). But Carney also bragged that Abbott’s latest moves touch on what Republicans consider a winning issue.

“I think it shows that [President] Biden and [Vice President] Harris and the Democrats could have done something like this in January of last year,” he said of Abbott’s policies. “But for politics, what they thought at the time was a winning question, go kill them.”