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A28 u.s. news
Dialuna 19 aPRil 2021

GOP White House hopefuls move forward as Trump considers run

polling and consultants. World Values Network in
New York, where he was
Trump is making plans to introduced by video by Re-
soon increase his visibility, publican megadonor Miriam
with aides discussing options Adelson. And on Saturday,
to hold rallies as soon as late he headlined the Palm Beach
spring or summer. “There’s County Republican Party’s
a pretty strong demand out annual Lincoln Day dinner at
there to get President Trump Mar-a-Lago along with Scott
on the road,” Miller said. and DeSantis.

Many Republicans acknowl- DeSantis, who is up for re-
edge Trump would leap to election next year, recently
the front of the pack if he hired a top Republican strat-
chooses to mount a bid to egist who served as executive
become the only president director of the Republican
other than Grover Cleveland Governors Association. De-
to serve two nonconsecu- Santis also has been using the
tive terms. Still, there is deep race to build a deep fundrais-
skepticism in many corners ing network that could sup-
of the party that Trump will port him if he chooses to run
run again. nationally.

While people close to him The party, which for a time
insist he is serious, many see appeared to be paralyzed by
Trump’s continued flirtations division, has grown more
as a means to maintain rel- united in its opposition to
evance as he has settled into Biden, even as Trump con-
a comfortable post-White tinues to spar with McCo-
House life. At Mar-a-Lago in nnell and works to defeat
Palm Beach, he's courted by incumbents who voted for
(AP) — Less than three They’re raising money, mak- challenge his standing. candidates and met by rounds his impeachment. Republi-
months after former Pres- ing hires and working to bol- of applause and standing ova- cans in Congress have found
ident Donald Trump left ster their name recognition. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, the tions whenever he enters the common cause railing against
the White House, the race The moves reflect both the chairman of the National dining room. Biden’s border policies, vot-
to succeed him atop the fervor in the party to reclaim Republican Senatorial Com- ing against his COVID-19
Republican Party is al- the White House and the re- mittee, last weekend awarded In the meantime, other relief bill and pushing for
ready beginning. ality that mounting a modern Trump a new “Champion could-be-candidates are new restrictions on voting,
presidential campaign is a for Freedom Award," which making moves, even as many while railing against corpo-
Trump's former secretary yearslong endeavor. the group publicized — of their aides insist their fo- rate interference in the voting
of state, Mike Pompeo, complete with a photo of a cus is squarely on next year's rights debate.
has launched an aggressive “You build the ark before it smiling, golf-attired Trump congressional elections and
schedule, visiting states that rains,” said Michael Steel, a holding a small, gleaming helping Republicans win “I think you would find broad
will play a pivotal role in Republican strategist who cup — even after the former back control of the House agreement in our party that
the 2024 primaries, and he worked for Jeb Bush’s pres- president went after Sen- and Senate. we need to be having the de-
has signed a contract with idential 2016 campaign, ate Republican leader Mitch bate about policy," said Rep.
Fox News Channel. Mike among others. “They’re go- McConnell of Kentucky in a Jeff Kaufmann, the chair of Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, the
Pence, Trump's former vice ing to do the things they profanity-laden speech. the Iowa Republican party, No. 3 House Republican,
president, has started a po- need to do if he decides not said the activity in his state who continues to face enor-
litical advocacy group, final- to run.” A day later, former South has begun even earlier this mous backlash after voting
ized a book deal and later Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, year than in the past two elec- for Trump's impeachment.
this month will give his first Trump, at least for now, is considered a top-tier 2024 tion cycles, with every can- “We need to be talking about
speech since leaving office in giving them plenty of leeway, candidate, told The Associ- didate on his potential 2024 policy," she said while speak-
South Carolina. And Florida convinced they pose little ated Press that she will sit out list having already visited or ing to Georgetown Univer-
Gov. Ron DeSantis has been threat to his own ambitions. the race if Trump runs again. thinking of visiting the first sity’s Institute of Politics and
courting donors, including state on the GOP nominat- Public Service last week.
in Trump's backyard, with a “It’s a free country. Folks can “I would not run if President ing calendar.
prominent speaking slot be- do what they want," Trump Trump ran, and I would talk Regardless of Trump's ulti-
fore the former president at a adviser Jason Miller said to him about it," she said in “I know of no one — honest- mate decision, his critics and
GOP fundraising retreat din- in response to the moves. Orangeburg, South Carolina. ly no one — that is hesitating acolytes alike say they see the
ner this month at Mar-a-La- “But,” he added, “if President “That’s something that we’ll to come out," he said. "Now future of the party as depen-
go, the Florida resort where Trump does decide to run in have a conversation about at some are a little more subtle dent on maintaining their ap-
Trump now lives. 2024, the nomination will be some point, if that decision than others, but that may not peal to Trump voters, while at
his if you’re paying any atten- is something that has to be necessarily be tied to Don- the same time winning back
Trump ended his presidency tion to public polling of Re- made.” ald Trump. That may be just the suburban voters who
with such a firm grip on Re- publican voters." tied into their campaign style abandoned them last fall.
publican voters that party The deference is, in part, and not wanting to get too far
leaders fretted he would Polling does indeed show an acknowledgement of ahead of their skis until they “I think everyone’s trying
freeze the field of potential that Trump remains a com- Trump's continued power. see if they have any traction to find that magic combina-
2024 candidates, delaying manding figure among Even out of office and with- whatsoever.” tion of ‘Trump-plus,’ of con-
preparations as he teased an- GOP voters, despite his loss out his Twitter megaphone, tinuing to appeal to the new
other run. Instead, many Re- in November to Democrat Trump remains deeply popu- Pompeo, arguably the most voters that President Trump
publicans with national am- Joe Biden. Republican lead- lar with the GOP base and is aggressive to date, is among brought to the Republican
bitions are openly laying the ers, including those who bolstered by an $85 million those who have already coalition while also bringing
groundwork for campaigns as may hope to someday suc- war chest that can be shared spent time in Iowa, as well back some of the college-
Trump continues to mull his ceed him, have been careful with endorsed candidates, as New Hampshire, and educated suburban folks that
own plans. to tend to his ego and make spent on advertising and used this week past he addressed were repelled by his antics,”
clear they have no plans to to fund travel and pay for Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s said Steel.