On Monday, just a day before the Missouri primary election, former President Donald Trump gave his endorsement in a tight race for a U.S. Senate seat to "Eric."
But there was a small problem Trump ran into by endorsing only a first name -- there are two Erics in the election, former Missouri governor Eric Greitens and state Attorney General Eric Schmitt.
There is even a third, lesser known "Eric" in the election, as Eric McElroy, a comedian, entered the race but didn't run any visible campaign, according to The Washington Post.
"There is a BIG Election in the Great State of Missouri, and we must send a MAGA Champion and True Warrior to the U.S. Senate, someone who will fight for Border Security, Election Integrity, our Military and Great Veterans, together with having a powerful toughness on Crime and the Border," Trump wrote in the statement.
"I trust the Great People of Missouri, on this one, to make up their own minds, much as they did when they gave me landslide victories in the 2016 and 2020 Elections, and I am therefore proud to announce that ERIC has my Complete and Total Endorsement!"
The Washington Posted noted that Trump's statement came not long after he posted to Truth Social about his endorsement, but left out the candidate's name. "I will be endorsing in the Great State of Missouri Republican race (Nomination) for Senate sometime today!" Trump wrote.
NBC News reached out to Trump's team for clarity on the endorsement, but they replied that the "endorsement speaks for itself."
Both Greitens and Schmitt took to social media and accepted Trump's endorsement, claiming they were both Trump's only choice.
"I’m honored to receive President Trump’s endorsement. From the beginning, I’ve been the true MAGA Champion fighting against the RINO establishment backing Schmitt," Greitens tweeted. "President Trump said it best when he characterized Schmitt’s campaign as ‘great dishonesty in politics.'"
After Greitens tweeted, Schmitt took to Twitter and said: "ENDORSEMENT—PRESIDENT TRUMP. I’m grateful for President Trump’s endorsement. As the only America First candidate who has actually fought for election integrity, border security & against the Left’s indoctrination of our kids—I’ll take that fight to the Senate to SAVE AMERICA!"
According to the most recent polling from SurveyUSA, Emerson College, and the Trafalgar Group, Schmitt is the leading favorite in the Senate race, per KRCG. Greitens came in second in the SurveyUSA poll, but was third in both the Emerson College and Trafalgar Group polls, trailing Rep. Vicky Hartzler.
Hartzler, who Trump said he would not endorse in July, took a jab at Schmitt and Greitens by saying, "Congrats to Eric McElroy. He's having a big night," in a statement, according to CBS News.
"It's caused my supporters to be even more energized," Hartzler said when asked about Trump's endorsement. "They have overwhelmingly said: Clearly, he doesn't know you. We know you, and we want to fight even harder for you."
Related
Related
