PALM BEACH, FL – MARCH 15: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump thanks supporters after delivering remarks at the Mar-A-Lago Club’s Donald J. Trump Ballroom March 15, 2016 in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump won the state of Florida and Ohio Gov. John Kasich won the state of Ohio. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A campaign spokesperson for Donald Trump has confirmed that the campaign is parting ways with Corey Lewandowski, the nominee’s campaign manager. The change comes just one month before the convention and as the candidate has been slipping in the polls against presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. They have also faced mounting criticism over the campaign’s pivot to general election mode.
“The Donald J. Trump campaign for president, which has set a historic record in the Republican primary and received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign,” Hope Hicks, spokeswoman for the Trump campaign said. “The campaign is grateful for his hard work and dedication and wishes him well.”
UPDATE: PPD has learned that the campaign believes the messaging aspect is on target, but the mechanics are lagging behind Hillary Clinton. While Mr. Trump typically likes the “Mom and Pop” aspect of the campaign, particularly up against the nearly 1,000 strong political organization of his rival, the decision reflects a move to play catch up.
Mr. Lewandowski has also been plagued with controversy over a female reporter claiming she was grabbed by the arm and pulled to the ground during a press scrum. However, Mr. Trump remained loyal to his campaign manager and the Florida state attorney in the end refused to press charges.
While PPD has not confirmed who will replace Mr. Lewandowski, it is widely believed he will tap Paul Manafort, who currently serves as the campaign chairman.
“Yeah, I think Paul is totally in charge,” said Bill Bennett, senior Trump advisor. He also said that Lewandowski is a personal friend and hates to see him go.
