Apparently the audience for the second GOP debate was 25% smaller. I really don’t see how any candidate can run against Trump while not pissing off the MAGA Base.
No one can take them away from Trump. With what? He is exactly what they want. The "debate" was an argument at the children's table on Thanksgiving. It solves nothing. Trump has called on the RNC to end them and to coalesce behind him. I think that would be a good strategy. If there was a viable challenger to Trump, that person would have emerged by now. I'm not talking about personal preferences or what is right or best for the country. Just the battle for the Republican nomination. Unless something unforeseen happens, they will nominate Trump. His disastrous lawsuits won't change things. His 91 felony counts won't change things. I suspect felony convictions, even incarceration (which I find unlikely) will not change anything. As with all things Trump, it will be, yet again, up to the American people to decide. I'm okay with that since I'm kind of a fan of democracy.
I missed it, didn't see it this time. At this time I think we have "in the game" 3 candidates (I can be wrong) Trump leading by a lot (He is almost 40 points ahead of Mr DeSantis) Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, the rest. Trump as reported in the news is deeply in legal challenges/trials. To the point that some trusts are being renegotiated to protect wife, son etc. DeSantis’ candidacy has long been premised on the idea that he will emerge as the party’s top alternative to Trump. As he has slid in polls, he has created an opening that Haley looks best positioned to seize. Haley has been rising in the GOP presidential field. Republican donors are poised to switch their allegiances from DeSantis to Haley as they eye up a candidate able to take on front runner. Haley responded to Trump’s post on X (calling her birdbrain), saying it shows her campaign is gaining momentum.
The problem is that Trump will probably win the nomination. He will immediately start spreading the lie that the Democrats are planning to steal the election from him again. He will do his best to cause as much death, destruction, and chaos as he possibly can. Whether he wins or loses he will amp up his death, destruction, and chaos as much as he can. If he wins it will be the worst. He'll do his best to use the full power of the US government for retribution. He'll go after everyone and anyone that he thinks slighted him or opposed him, from low level election workers to criminal investigators to ex-presidents.
I'm sorry, but there is no reason to single out Haley or DeSantis from "the rest." They, like everyone not named "Trump" is a card-carrying member of "The Rest."
Suppose "the Rest" are more subtle and Machiavellian than we realize. Suppose at some deep and toxic level the clearer eyed among them get to thinking that an incarcerated President, whether impeached or not, might not be able to "discharge the powers and duties of the said office" thus making it a very good thing indeed to be the incumbent VEEP.
In both major parties I've long thought that the alsorans were probably hoping for a breakthrough moment that would make them attractive as a running mate or at least a Cabinet post. I figured that's what Pete Buttigieg was angling for last time, for example, that he realized he wasn't going anywhere in statewide politics in socially conservative Indiana, so he had nothing to lose. Either way, as others have said, there are not three people "in the game" for the Republican nomination, there is but one.
True there is but one in the Republican nomination race. Or at least Trump is super far ahead, like fifty yards from the finish line in a one mile race when everyone else in the race is still at the starting line. Trump will win unless he drops dead or probably even less likely something happens in court that causes him to lose the MAGA crowd.
