Yes, but Trump is also the guy who tried to manipulate his father’s will to screw over other family members. Anything he’s put on paper so far can and will be amended as soon as he sees fit.
They already have learned the lesson. That’s why they are working harder, with more congressional hearings, to find something about Hunter, they can pin on Joe, than they did in the last cycle.
And that is relevant to what if Trump withdraws. With Trump as the nominee, any unwise phone call that Joe may have participated in with Hunter will be minor in comparison with Trump’s sins. But with another GOP nominee, well, I don’t know for sure. Every candidate – maybe every one of us – has weaknesses findable with enough opposition research. But Hunter hunting gets more damaging if Trump withdraws.
I would venture to guess that Melania has been stashing money and valuables away ever since her marriage and has amassed a tidy nest egg.
I sure can’t see her following Himself into any sort of exile, whatever the outcome of the trials and electoral process.
If Trump withdraws before spring it’s a whole new ballgame. After that time the Republicans will just further highlight their disgusting lack of regard for the constitution and their underlying evil nature. One after the other the potential candidates will clamor for the MAGAt vote proposing the most medieval means of turning the country into a Republican led version of North Korea. That would be a good thing because Biden will be swept into a second term.
If he does get out early then there will be a contest of some sort. Perhaps Biden vs. a loser like DeSantis is still a pretty good bet for Uncle Joe. Christy vs. Biden could turn into a slugfest, but I doubt he can secure the nomination. The trouble will be someone like Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, or Asa Hutchinson presenting the kinder, gentler face of fascism and somehow securing Trumps endorsement.
Christie is hated by the MAGAs, and I don’t see that changing even if Trump drops out. He can’t beat Biden (or even come close) without the Trump cult behind him or at least neutral.
Right now they don’t see him in the race. With Trump out things can turn quickly. The MAGAs may not participate if he’s out, or he could send them out to waste their votes in order for him to push nonviable candidates. That said, I doubt it will be Christy.
I can easily see Trump and the MAGAts lay waste to any Republican presidential campaign that does not have Trump at the top of the ticket. But in the spirit of this thread, if Trump were out, the MAGAts would rally around their favorite from the remaining clowns - one that most closely reflects their priorities, and at this point, that seems like it would be DeSantis. Even if the rest of the party coaleses around a more moderate candidate, the MAGAts will do as their told and go for DeSantis in the primary, and if he were not selected for some reason, they would not vote in the general and sit on their hands and let the GOP lose, out of spite. Such is the way of people who see compromise as a bad thing.
If Trump withdraws, he’s a loser and irrelevant.
And even today, his endorsement doesn’t do much in a general election. Consider:
Brad Raffensperger, who defied Trump, wins reelection as Georgia secretary of state
I know several Trump-avoidant right of center voters who would probably vote for any Republican other than DJT.
And personally: If the GOP nominee is anyone other than DeSantis, Ramaswamy, or Trump, I’ll probably vote for Biden, but hope to read the debate transcripts (since I don’t watch TV) with an open mind. Flip-floppers are welcome!
Many Trump supporters would today promise to sit out the election, or vote for a right-wing third party candidate, if the choice is between someone they think of as a RINO, and Biden. But history says that as the election draws near, party loyalty reasserts itself.
Without trump it will likely become harder for Biden to win. Yes, the hardest core MAGAs will likely stay home if they can’t vote for their chosen messiah. But a lot of democrats might stay home, too, without the urgent and real threat of trump to fight against. For whatever reason, Biden just isn’t very popular. He isn’t actually disliked, as far as i can tell, people just don’t have strong positive feelings for him that will drive them out to vote if it’s not a vote against donald trump.
Plus all of the independents who are really Republicans at heart who absolutely would not ever under any circumstances vote for trump but would hold their nose and vote for Biden might not have such strong feelings against whatever dross floats to the top of the R primary race. Especially if it’s a younger person. Small percentages really matter.
4 posts were split to a new topic: The Republicans really screwed themselves by putting all of their eggs in the MAGA basket