GOP strategist: More candidates will soon follow Paul out of race

Posted on February 3, 2016
Pat Brady
Pat Brady, former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, says Donald Trump faced mounting opposition in Iowa which led to upset loss in that state’s caucuses, giving the win to Ted Cruz. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

DES MOINES – A Republican party strategist said Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is just the first of probably several candidates who will drop out of the GOP race in the coming days.

Former Illinois Republican Party chairman Pat Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin he expects the GOP field will be thinned after the New Hampshire primary next week.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen’s interview with Brady on WJBC.

“Most of these folks are out after Tuesday because if they do stay in they are really going to irritate people because they are taking away from candidates who might actually be able to win the general election,” Brady said.

Brady said he hopes that paves the way for Ohio Gov. John Kasich to make a surge.

“What Republicans are looking for is one person to get behind that’s not (Donald) Trump or (Ted) Cruz and I think (Kasich needs) a high second or pull off some miracle in New Hampshire,” Brady said. “I think he’s said as much.”

Brady said Trump’s high unfavorable ratings finally caught up with him in Iowa, where Cruz pulled out the upset win in the caucuses.

“A big chuck of the people turned out not to support a candidate but to stop Trump,” Brady said. “Trump’s people didn’t really turn out.

He added Cruz also benefited from a strong grassroots campaign.

“There’s 99 counties in Iowa and he’s had a county chair representing him in every county for a year, Trump didn’t have any of that,” Brady said. “(Trump) only stayed overnight in Iowa for one night.”

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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