That Was Then, This Is Now
It’s going to be a fine line for GOP presidential candidates to walk in 2024…challenging Donald Trump while still showing respect for the man they may once have worked for, may have supported, or who may have supported them in an election effort.
So far, the line seems to be “he was the greatest president ever, but it’s time for someone younger” in 2024.
Tim Scott was in Iowa last week, prior to an official announcement; Nikki Haley was here too, just after she made her run official. Of course, everyone asks about the Trump factor. Scott, for example, was asked how he differed from Trump on issues and he conceded there was not much difference. He praised #45, but then noted that the GOP needs someone younger as a contrast to Biden—in other words, the same policies, but from a different messenger. The same message is being touted by entrepreneur and conservative activist Vivek Ramaswamy.
Haley is not lockstep with Trump on all issues, so there’s a difference. And Haley, Ramaswamy, and Scott have characteristics of birth that are different from Trump…in addition to being at least a generation younger.
The Mikes–Pence and Pompeo—will sound the same “it’s our turn” refrain.
And, of course, that “same policies, but from a different messenger” mantra is the one Ron DeSantis will ride into battle. He’s looking increasingly like a candidate…you don’t make tours of major cities and give speeches just to convince people to move to Florida. Soon will come the national book tour, and if all that goes well, he’ll probably toss his hat into the ring after his state legislature finishes its work for the year.
Polls at this point, which truly are worthless, suggest it’s a two-man race between Trump and DeSantis, but that’s probably based on name recognition.
But get used to hearing “Trump was the greatest and I wish he was still president, but it’s time for new leadership” as the 2024 Iowa Caucuses draw near. Because that’s the best way for these contenders to siphon support away from a president many of their base voted for twice.
