Staff Reports
The Republican presidential candidates have spent most of this year trying to take down front-runner Donald Trump, but with less than two months until the Iowa caucuses, they still haven’t been able to lay a glove on him. In fact, they can’t even seem to see him. Trump has smartly decided to skip the debates, knowing he has nothing to gain by participating. It’s like the survivors are debating the Great and Powerful Oz, minus the actual Dr. Oz.
Trump’s grip on the GOP base is so strong that even former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, both earnest and true conservatives, have dropped out of the race even before any votes have been cast. As they say, nice guys finish last. But let’s not forget, no one has actually voted yet in the GOP primary, and anything can happen. Well, at least that’s what the journalists like to believe. After all, a miracle would mean more papers and clicks sold.
So let’s take a look at where the candidates stand ahead of the GOP’s Iowa caucus on Jan. 15:
– Donald Trump: He’s cruising in the fast lane, oblivious to his turn signal that’s been blinking for the past 20 miles. And it seems like nothing can slow him down. Sure, he’s had his fair share of run-ins with the law this year, but even the possibility of going to jail doesn’t faze him. If anything, it might even boost his lead among GOP voters. Revenge seems to be an added bonus to his campaign this time around, with promises to root out the “radical-left thugs” and go after his outspoken opponents. Trump ’24: A Dish Served Cold, indeed.
– Ron DeSantis: Once considered a potential alternative to Trump, DeSantis has fallen behind in the polls. He started off by pitching himself as not being a loser, but it seems like he’s losing ground to Trump instead. And his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he thought would be a plus for his campaign, hasn’t helped him much in Florida, the only state that actually saw the benefits of his policies. Time is running out for DeSantis to find his smooth lane.
– Nikki Haley: The former U.N. ambassador has been exceeding expectations, showing off her foreign-policy skills and seeking a middle ground on abortion. She’s even unafraid to criticize Trump. She’s climbed to second place in New Hampshire and leads Biden in a recent poll by a greater margin than any other Republican rival. Unfortunately, two-thirds of GOP primary voters are still happy with Trump, so it’s an uphill battle for Haley. And her recent feud with rival Vivek Ramaswamy doesn’t help her cause either.
– Vivek Ramaswamy: This businessman is trying to prevent Trump from winning a second term by running as a Trump admirer. He supports ending birthright citizenship and opposes U.S. aid to Ukraine. While he won’t win, his position in the race has gained traction. He was only 1 point behind DeSantis in a recent New Hampshire poll. Not bad for an unknown candidate.
– Chris Christie: The former New Jersey governor has positioned himself as the truth teller about Trump, believing that Trump will eventually be convicted on criminal charges. He thinks someone else should be the GOP nominee, like himself maybe. Unfortunately, only about 3% of GOP voters agree with him. Looks like his time has passed.
– Doug Burgum and Asa Hutchinson: They’re still in the race, and your guess is as good as ours as to how they’re doing.
It remains to be seen who will come out on top in the GOP primary, but one thing is clear: Trump is not going down without a fight. He’s determined to make America great again, and if that means revenge against his opponents, so be it. Let the battle for the Republican nomination continue!
