Ivanka Trump once told me on Boston Herald Radio that she has no
official role in the campaign. That’s about to change, bigtime.
There appears to be little doubt Ivanka forced her dad to give
campaign manager Corey Lewandowski the boot. Though it was probably
one of her Dixi Embellished Espadrilles Wedge Sandals that landed on
the Lewandowski’s back end on the way out.
Good move, Trump campaign. Ivanka is a class act who has built a
powerful brand of her own, beyond her clothing line, that focuses on
#WomenWhoWork. She’s even penning a book on women who work that’s
slated for book stores next year. She’s a brilliant businesswoman and
an eloquent Trump surrogate who has built a network and an untarnished
image that her dad needs to tap into.
Lewandowski had become a liability ever since he faced charges of
allegedly manhandling a Breitbart reporter. Trump took a risk hiring
someone with little national campaign experience and it paid off early
on in the primaries when Lewandowski helped the New York mogul carry
his home state of New Hampshire.
Women voters are Trump’s weak spot and there’s no way Ivanka was going
to continue risking her reputation standing next to someone so rough
around the edges. I’m sure she privately excuses her dad for a lot of
his excesses, but he’s family and Corey’s last name is Lewandowski.
So expect to see her spend more time on the campaign trail as a
formidable Trump surrogate making a strong case to female voters.
She’s a dedicated mother with a newborn at home so she can connect
with so many young working moms that appear to be turned off by
Hillary Clinton.
Trump needs a veteran campaign strategist like Paul Manefort to get
boots on the ground and hone the candidate’s message, but none of that
will work without Ivanka standing proud next to her dad at major
events and being his best surrogate on the trail.
Democrats will be hard-pressed to link Trump to the phony GOP war on
women when his favorite child, Ivanka, is by close his side and not
his two sons. That recurring image will be worth thousands of unspoken
words and paid campaign ads.
My husband went to boarding school with Ivanka and he recalls how
impressive she was. When she was called upon she always was prepared
and behaved well beyond her years.
During her interview with Hillary Chabot and me on our “Morning
Meeting” show, Ivanka spoke of her dad in such loving terms that it
conveyed an indelible image of the man rarely seen on TV. It was clear
that she not only has her father’s ear, she also had his back, and
that’s endearing to just about everyone.
Ivanka also told us she didn’t foresee a career in politics for
herself. With Lewandowski’s abrupt departure, she’s obviously changed
her mind.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
