Donald Trump Bails on Conservative Political Action Conference
Some wonder if he's trying to avoid a potentially hostile reception.
Donald Trump has, at the last minute, cancelled plans to appear tomorrow at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference. The four-day political fest is currently underway at National Harbor outside Washington D.C.
Trump’s campaign announced that instead he will be in Kansas for a rally and to speak at Saturday’s Kansas caucuses, before heading to Orlando for a rally and “a crowd of approximately 20,000 people or more.”
Hot Air immediately speculated that perhaps it was the crowd at CPAC he was trying to avoid:
Maybe, with movement conservatives crying “Never Trump!” for the past week, he didn’t want to show up at their annual party and risk being booed for half an hour with the entire GOP watching. Remember, his pitch lately has been that he alone can unify the party by bringing out disaffected populist voters and conservatives who loath the establishment. If grassroots righties boo him off the stage at CPAC, it’d be a PR catastrophe.
They also report on Twitter rumors that attendees were planning a mass walk-out on Trump once he started speaking. They wonder if Trump’s people got wind of the plan.
Regardless, CPAC organizers took Trump’s late decision as a snub:
Very disappointed @realDonaldTrump has decided at the last minute to drop out of #CPAC — his choice sends a clear message to conservatives.
— CPAC (@CPAC) March 4, 2016
In Trump’s defense, 40 delegates are at stake in tomorrow’s Kansas caucuses. A new Trafalgar Group poll out Friday shows Trump’s lead over Ted Cruz down to six points, 35% to 29% with Rubio at 13%. The last major poll out of Kansas, the Fort Hays St. University poll, had Trump up by 12, but that poll took place before Trump’s two recent debate performances. GOP rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich are appearing at CPAC today. Marco Rubio appears tomorrow.
For those disappointed they won’t get to their fix of Trump at CPAC, here’s last year’s speech.
This story has been updated to reflect the new Trafalgar Group poll of Kansas voters published Friday.