CALIFORNIA/CAMPAIGN FINANCE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump’s resurgent obsession with California and its policy machinations boils down to money — specifically, raising as much cash as possible from the state’s under-the-radar Republican base. The president keeps talking up California’s problems like environmental regulations and homelessness to show the West Coast’s well-heeled donors that he is engaged on problems that affect their businesses and families, according to two sources familiar with the Trump reelection campaign. Trump aides are realistic enough to know they cannot flip the state red in 2020, but they still want dollars flowing from California conservatives during the election that they can redirect toward efforts in states like Wisconsin, Michigan or Pennsylvania. Trump narrowly won these states in 2016 — and they will be crucial for his path to winning a second term…Trump is more than happy to listen to their concerns at roundtables and private dinners and lunches.”
–Nancy Cook and Jeremy B. White, “Trump’s obsession with California has cash benefits,” Politico, September 20, 2019 8:52 am