Donald Trump: These Republicans are positioning themselves against him

Possible 2024 candidacy
DeSantis, Pence, Pompeo: These Republicans are taking a stand against Trump

So far, Donald Trump is the only major Republican to announce his 2024 candidacy. But the competition is already in the starting blocks. The field is likely to widen in the coming weeks.

Will Mike Pence challenge his ex-boss to a duel soon? Rumors about the former Vice President’s possible candidacy caused a stir in political Washington over the holidays. The “Sky News” broadcaster had previously reported that the 63-year-old Republican was fighting for the White House. Corresponding papers were received by the responsible election commission, it said.

But as soon as the news got out followed the retreat. Pence did not submit any documents for a candidacy today, his adviser Davin O’Malley wrote on Twitter on Monday. A short time later it was said that the tweet had been removed by the author. Pence himself has not yet commented on the latest rumors, but had already announced during the midterms that he was considering running for office. This would mean that Donald Trump’s once loyal companion himself would compete against his former boss.

So far, Trump is the only known candidate who has officially announced his bid for 2024. But behind the scenes, possible rivals are already making initial preparations shortly before the end of the year.

Trump competition makes preparations for 2024

At the forefront: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. His candidacy is still pending, but so far he has been given the best chance against the ex-president. Because although the 44-year-old Republican has adapted much of Trump’s hard-line rhetoric, he can appeal to a broader group of voters thanks to his supposedly moderate demeanor. With the start of the new legislative session in his state, DeSantis is now running ads on Google and Facebook – nationwide. With his political plans in Florida, the governor wants to score points in front of a national audience, as an adviser to “Washington Post” reported.

Meanwhile, the team led by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has begun searching for potential employees in those states where primary elections are held first. “We have to be sure by the first quarter of next year if we want to make it,” the 58-year-old said in a recent interview “Fox News” interview. Traditionally, the candidature is only decided in the election year in an internal party pre-selection process that often lasts months – which the applicant must first be able to afford.

Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas, knows this too. The 72-year-old Republican is therefore already in talks with major donors and, according to employees, is weighing his chances of financing a possible “endurance race”. “You never know when this early frontrunner is going to stumble,” says Hutchinson, who has repeatedly called on the Grand Old Party (GOP) to break away from Trump.

Donald Trump’s candidacy in the balance

The former president is no longer undisputed in his party. After his handpicked candidates were rejected by voters in the midterm elections this fall, criticism grows. Even his candidacy, which Trump nevertheless announced on November 15, did not provoke the storm of enthusiasm that he had hoped for. Many prominent Republicans have so far held back with statements of support.

There are also new headlines almost every week that put the 76-year-old in a bad light. At the end of November he had to justify himself to a scandalous dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate, to which known anti-Semites were invited. Shortly before Christmas, the bipartisan committee recommended on January 6 that Trump should even be excluded from future offices because of his role in the storming of the Capitol (the star reported). Not to mention several investigations currently underway against him.

So it is hardly surprising that the ex-president has not held any further campaign meetings since announcing his candidacy. While Trump was the first to advance and now faces growing problems, several employees of the “Washington Post‘ reveal that his rivals see certain advantages in sitting back and strategically preparing their own campaigns.

Overcrowded field of applicants could be an advantage for Trump

Crucial weeks are therefore coming up for Trump’s competition at the beginning of the new year. It is necessary to set up teams for the campaigns, to sharpen one’s own profile in the important pre-election states and to raise money for the expensive election campaign. Republican party strategists expect the first unofficial campaign events to begin shortly after the holiday. Many applicants will use the traditional “Lincoln Day Dinners” in February and March to raise awareness and draw donors on board.

It is still unclear how many Republicans will actually dare to take the step. A crowded field of applicants could even end up being an advantage for the ex-president. Such was the case in 2016, when the rest of the GOP failed to agree on an alternative candidate and Trump won key primaries.

It should be different this time. Numerous potential candidates have announced that they will make a decision about 2024 in winter or in spring at the latest. Ex-Vice Pence recently said that he wanted to discuss a possible candidacy with his family in Indianapolis during the Christmas holidays. Nikki Haley, UN ambassador under Trump, said recently at an eventthat she wanted to use the time between the years to weigh her chances.

One thing is certain: the field is likely to widen in the coming weeks.

Sources: “Washington Post“, “NYTimes“, “Sky News“, with AFP footage