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\"A group of [Republicans in name only] who failed badly 12 years ago, then again 8 years ago, and then got BADLY beaten by me, a political first timer, 4 years ago, have copied (no imagination) the concept of an ad from Ronald Reagan, 'Morning in America,'\" Trump tweeted, adding, \"Their so-called Lincoln Project is a disgrace to Honest Abe.\"

The amplification from Trump served as a fundraising boon for The Lincoln Project -- which recently brought in nearly $40 million in donations in the year's third quarter -- but also exposed its members to widespread criticism, including from Democrats and Joe Biden supporters who argue the group's leaders are enriching themselves through their former rivals and that the money should be funneled directly to Democratic candidates.

Looking beyond the presidential race, Stevens was pessimistic about the direction of the Republican Party as a whole, noting his dismay at Judge Amy Coney Barrett's unwillingness Tuesday during her confirmation hearing to weigh in on concerns about a \"peaceful transfer of power\" should Trump lose this fall. He also registered his disappointment in Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., once viewed as up-and-coming party leaders, for not doing more to remain unentangled with Trump.

\"PHOTO:
Evan Vucci/AP, FILE
PHOTO: Stuart Stevens, senior adviser to Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, talks with press aboard the Romney campaign plane, Sept. 28, 2012, in Philadelphia.
>

\"These are two guys that have great futures behind them,\" he said. \"They're completely compromised. They're not serious people. They've proven to be, you know, smaller than the moment. They're just little men who have big jobs and failed. They were confronted with a big moment and they failed.\"

As for his outlook on Trump's reelection chances, Stevens argued that as bad as he believed the country and its economy has fared during the pandemic, the same characteristics that have turned so many Republicans away from the president are those that have endeared him to others and kept his campaign afloat.

\"A lot of times we get sort of focused on the lunacy of Donald Trump, but if Donald Trump was just some boring Republican, he'd be in terrible trouble,\" he said.

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