Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Fred Barnes says Donald Trump needs to bring conservatives, especially Paul Ryan, into his camp:
There’s a lot at stake. If Mr. Trump is dismissive of the congressional wing, it becomes more likely that a third-party conservative candidate will enter the race. Failing to find some common ground will make Mr. Trump’s path to victory in November against Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee, far more hazardous. The GOP’s congressional wing includes more than members of Congress. It’s loosely organized and exists in an orbit around Mr. Ryan. He is the architect of its agenda and is pursuing it vigorously in the House. Party elites are on his side. The business community, in the absence of a Republican president or sympathetic Democrats, has allied itself with GOP senators, House members, and their staffs for protection and aid during this administration. Alienated by President Obama, it had nowhere else to turn. Meanwhile, conservative think tanks have become significant players. They are the chief source of policy advice and legislative initiatives for Republicans on Capitol Hill. Their ties to Mr. Ryan are deep-seated. They have influence in the mainstream media, both print and TV. The conservative “movement” is divided on Mr. Trump. But many of its leaders are either aligned against him or at least unwilling to say anything nice about him. They know Mr. Ryan well and respect him. The speaker, by the way, considers himself a “movement” conservative.
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