New York Times correspondent and CNN analyst Maggie Haberman recently spoke to CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins and said that if the Supreme Court upholds the Colorado ballot ban, ex-President Donald Trump “will get kicked off the ballot almost everywhere” via Mediaite.
Tuesday evening, the Colorado Supreme Court announced the bombshell news of its decision to ban Trump from the ballot on the grounds that he violated the 14th Amendment by engaging in insurrection on January 6. The court split on the question by a 4 to 3 vote.
On Tuesday night’s edition of CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Haberman made a point that will no doubt be sobering for Trump — that his entire reelection is imperiled if the decision is upheld:
COLLINS: I mean, that’s pretty fascinating that this historic ruling, kicking him off the ballot has just come out. And obviously, they’re going to appeal it. But I mean, Maggie, he started almost immediately fundraising off of it. So, they think it’s going to ultimately benefit them.
ON THE PHONE: HABERMAN: Yes, I mean, listen, I don’t think that he wants to be — I don’t think they want the Supreme Court to uphold the decision, right?
And that is, obviously within the realm of the possible, although they don’t think that that’s the likeliest scenario, because if that happens? I mean, to Elie’s point, you’re going to see people, in other states, trying this anyway. And if the Supreme Court does that, it’s, he will get kicked off the ballot almost everywhere.
But they do see at least short-term political advantage. And everything with Trump, right now, is a game of inches, toward getting to the next benchmark.
The current benchmark is becoming the Republican nominee, and having as much money as he can. And so far, everything that has happened legally has helped him in that. That doesn’t mean that it would in a general election. But it certainly is right now.
COLLINS: Why do you think he didn’t talk about it tonight?
ON THE PHONE: HABERMAN: I think that he probably has not totally processed it, since it happened right before he went on stage. And I think that there are moments when his back is against the wall, when he can be more disciplined than other times. I don’t know that that’s the reason why. But that would be my guess.
COLLINS: Maggie Haberman, of course, a lot of reaction to come. We’ve heard, certainly heard from his allies, and his spokespeople.
Maggie Haberman, thank you, for jumping on the phone with us, on this breaking news, tonight.
