MOORE — U.S. Rep. Tom Cole said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s endorsement remains the most valuable political backing a Republican candidate can receive, even if it is not always decisive.
Speaking after casting his ballot at his polling place in Moore, the veteran congressman said Trump’s support remains highly sought after in Republican politics.
“There’s no question that this endorsement is the most valuable endorsement to have,” said Cole, a Moore Republican. “That’s why it’s so sought after in Republican politics.”
Trump’s endorsements have figured prominently in several of Oklahoma’s highest-profile Republican contests this year, including races for governor, lieutenant governor and Congress.
Cole, who has also received Trump’s endorsement, said he understands why candidates seek it.
“I think anybody that has it is,” he said when asked whether recipients are grateful for the backing.
Still, Cole noted that Trump’s endorsement record, while formidable, is not perfect.
“His percentage is like 98 or 99 percent,” Cole said. “But that’s the point — it doesn’t always work.”
Cole said Oklahoma’s crowded gubernatorial primary could provide another test of Trump’s political influence. In a close four-way race, he said, supporters of candidates who fail to advance could rally around another contender in a runoff.
“But it’s rare,” Cole said of Trump-backed candidates losing. “The Trump endorsement is still the gold standard in Republican primary politics, no question about it.”
