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A Few Clouds Ten Davids and one Goliath
To date, there are at least 10 Republican Davids who have announced that they are running for president, and there are perhaps another five coming. This should very much please the Goliath, Donald Trump, who welcomes as many competitors as possible.
Almost all of the declared candidates have one thing in common. They are afraid to attack the former president, even though doing so would make them look truly independent. Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized Trump for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, but then pledged to support the eventual party nominee.
From candidate to candidate, the story is the same. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes pokes at Trump and tries to outdo him, but refuses to aim any direct hits at him. DeSantis wants the support of the pro-Trump movement, so he won’t take on Trump in any meaningful way.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has some impressive credentials, and talks about “moving forward,” but she can’t muster the nerve to say anything negative about Trump. On issues like abortion, she is wishy-washy, saying she is pro-life and not criticizing DeSantis for his six-week abortion ban. She claims she does “not want to get into the numbers game.”
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is well respected in the Senate. He is very articulate, but when confronted with specific issues, he dances around like Fred Astaire. He could become a formidable candidate, but if he hedges like all the other candidates, he won’t get any traction.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has great executive experience and is working hard to attract independents. He has made some negative comments about Trump, primarily about Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Hutchinson has a very conservative record on taxes and abortion, which might attract some voters. But he is too low-key at a time when more vocal candidates get noticed.
Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, is a new face on the national political scene. In his home state he is known for cutting taxes and anti-transgender policies. Money is no issue, because Burgum is a billionaire. But a governor from an obscure state won’t ever be a favorite to lead the pack. He appears to be running primarily for name recognition, which may help in the next election cycle.
One of my favorite candidates is former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Coupled with the fact that he is a former U.S. attorney, he is articulate and tough. At his announcement of his candidacy, Christie ripped into Trump with humor and sharp barbs. Few political observers think he can win the nomination, but he has the ability to cause some damage to Trump.
While all of these announced candidates are running around Iowa, New Hampshire, Arizona and Georgia, Trump is sitting back and thinking, the more the merrier. In the coming weeks there will be more entrants into the presidential horse race, which will make him even happier. The latest polls show him with a wide lead over his nearest rival, DeSantis. In recent weeks, DeSantis has seen a drop in his support due to some of his very unpopular actions in Florida.
Is it possible Trump could lose his party’s nomination? In politics, anything can happen. He faces two indictments (so far), in New York and Florida, which would sink almost any other candidate. But his continuing popularity among Republicans could keep him viable as a candidate, even one who’s been indicted.
And it’s possible that even if he’s not the eventual nominee, Trump will run anyway. He may be willing to burn the Republican house down, even if he’s in leg irons.
For now, it’s the Davids against Goliath, and Goliath is looking hard to topple.
Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
