, Columnist
Anti-Trump Republicans Won't Change Clinton
Don't expect her to sell out liberals to build bridges with the GOP.
Senators Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The recent endorsements of Hillary Clinton by Republican party actors are unlikely to affect how she behaves in office if she is elected. Unless, that is, this support changes the way the Republicans themselves behave.
To assess how Clinton would act as president, look at the promises she is making as a candidate. Not only do politicians try to keep their pledges. Even when they don’t, their promises inform how they think about what they are doing and how to explain it to voters. (Political scientist Richard Fenno describes how this cycle works.)