(THREAD) This one stings. Rex Early, a longtime Indiana GOP activist and donor, has died, according to the Indy Star. Early was Trump's spokesman in the 2016 Trump Indiana campaign. Early was 88. #ingov #insen #indiana (1)
indystar.com/story/news/202…
indystar.com/story/news/202…
Early was a former state rep in the 1960s and a Marine vet. He became Reagan's Indiana campaign chair in the 1980s. In 1991, he became party chair and raised money to stave off the state GOP's insolvency. (2)
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) said if you wanted to run for office in Indiana, you approached Rex: "From dog catcher to U.S. President, lines formed at his door for an endorsement." #insen #ingov (3)
Rex Early ran for governor in 1996 and opposed the front runner, Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith (R). Early was the favorite of party chairmen. Goldsmith was the favorite of Indianapolis-area leaders and had a network of conservative followers. (4)
Early warned an Indianapolis mayor had never won the governor's mansion, because the state was wary of Indy's influence and power. It was a tough primary. Goldsmith won but lost to Lt. Gov. Frank O'Bannon (D). (5)
Early stayed active and was tapped by Donald Trump to help him win the crucial Indiana GOP primary in May 2016. Trump beat Ted Cruz after Trump rallied with former IU b-ball coach Bobby Knight. The win put Trump in charge of the GOP nomination. (6)
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