Washington Free Beacon editor Matthew Continetti said Tuesday that an election framed between gun control and immigration restriction would benefit Republican Donald Trump, but he cautioned that the candidate's message was in danger of being overshadowed by his more controversial remarks.
Trump has previously called for a temporary ban on Muslim immigration into the United States in the name of national security. In the aftermath of the Orlando terrorist attack that left 49 dead, Trump went even further, saying Monday that he would suspend immigration from countries "where there is a proven history of terrorism" against the United States.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton echoed calls from the White House and congressional Democrats for sweeping gun control measures to be passed in response to the nation's deadliest mass shooting.
Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza wondered if Trump's more bombastic response was more in line with voters. The column led off the Fox News discussion on Tuesday.
"Well, I think if you frame the election as an issue between gun control and immigration restriction, then that's very favorable issue terrain to Donald Trump, so I agree with Chris on that," Continetti said. "What Donald Trump has to wonder about is whether his message on issues like Second Amendment rights and Muslim immigration to the United States is going to be drowned out by some of his other controversial comments he's made over the past week."
Trump, whose candidacy has been beset by his many outlandish comments, again stepped into controversy Monday when he made vaguely ominous remarks about President Obama and the threat of radical Islamic terrorism.
"We're led by a man that either is not tough, not smart, or he's got something else in mind and the something else in mind, people can't believe it," Trump said on Fox & Friends. "People cannot ... believe that President Obama is acting the way he acts and can't even mention the word radical Islamic terrorism. There's something going on. It's inconceivable."
"If this is a continuity versus change election, Hillary's the candidate of continuity. Donald is the candidate of change," Continetti said. "The question is, are Americans ready to take that risk and risk the change that might come if they elect Donald Trump president."