Punchbowl News has its ear to the ground again, only this time – their sources come from outside the Capitol dome (Punchbowl) and reach into the Trump Campaign camp, with eyes toward a possible Trump administration.

Melania Trump, who may or may not be one of Trump’s most trusted advisors – depending on one’s source – is pushing the campaign and her husband to bring Kellyanne “Alternate Facts” Conway back into the field of advisors, perhaps even beyond the campaign as a possible first woman Chief of Staff.

Yes, Conway brings her usual mix of talents and baggage.

According to Punchbowl: 

Sure, Conway has a Fox News gig and a lucrative polling business, but Melania, I’m told, is eager to surround herself with loyalists from the first campaign. “Melania trusts her,” said a source close to the family. Melania “feels like she isn’t being protected. She is unhappy; that’s why she didn’t go out on Super Tuesday. Kellyanne is the only person Melania trusts.”

Wait, what? Melania doesn’t feel protected? Last we heard, Melania hasn’t even decided on whether to join the campaign in any official capacity nor has she agreed to even speak at events. Why would she need the sort of “protection” that we’re talking about here? Melania does seem to have one unquestionable strength, and that is taking care of Melania, which can be her greatest gift or greatest weakness.

Trump also sees [Conway’s] value to him on the outside, especially given his complicated and occasionally icy relationship with Fox News. Conway still advises him, and has been helpful with corralling the donor class… Conway would serve multiple purposes—including keeping Jared Kushner at a distance. Kushner, for his part, has thus far kept himself at a distance from the Trump campaign and is not expected to join the administration. Ivanka, too, has been working painstakingly to extricate herself from her father’s orbit. 

Given that it’s been pretty self-evident that Kushner and Ivanka will not participate in any campaign or White House positions at this point, what purpose does Conway serve?

Ah – yes, Fox News, and yet leaving the mighty media mouthpiece would somewhat defenestrate Conway’s message because she would have to be seen as independent to be even slightly credible – and that’s gracious. Perhaps the relationships formed during her time at Fox News would add some strength. But having Sean Hannity in one’s pocket would go a long way in building goodwill within the network.

Back to Melania. It remains a mystery as to why she would need “protection” unless she’s made a decision to jump into the campaign with enthusiasm warranting an advocate. The Trump link makes far more sense.

Time will tell.

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