Posted on 09/30/2023 10:21:11 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
Never-Trump Republicans are trying to lure Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) into the GOP presidential primary as there is growing concern over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) sinking poll numbers.
DeSantis, who at one point was the closest challenger to former President Donald Trump, has fallen behind Trump by as many as 50 points, recent polls found. Before launching his primary, DeSantis polled just 15 points behind Trump in February. However, a September poll found him down by 47 points, while others have placed him in third place behind political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy.
“DeSantis has faltered and failed to meet expectations and donors know it,” former Ronald Reagan campaign manager Ed Rollins told CBS News’s Robert Costa. “No one has a real opening right now, but people are trying to figure out what to do.”
DeSantis’s donors have reportedly questioned the strength of his 2024 candidacy and whether he should hold off on his presidential ambitions until 2028.
Now, prominent GOP donors are eyeing Youngkin as a potential alternative to Trump, Costa reported.
Youngkin will host a two-day “Red Vest Retreat” next month with an official focus on helping Republicans win control of Virginia’s General Assembly. However, donors intend to use the event as “an opportunity for them to try to push, if not shove, Youngkin into the Republican presidential race,” according to Costa.
A "Red Vest Retreat" now scheduled for October, officially about this November's Virginia contests, all as some Youngkin donors and veteran Republicans grapple with Trump's position in the race… pic.twitter.com/gY1EEcERHP
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
The various Youngkin 2024 theories go something like this: If Virginia’s state legislature goes Republican on Nov. 7, Youngkin could claim he flipped a state that Joe Biden won in 2020. If the governor then signaled interest in exploring a run, supporters could rush to collect signatures for him to get on the ballot in delegate-rich states, many of which have December deadlines. If he got in, he’d make a play for Iowa and build a campaign with an eye on staying in until the convention.
Even former Trump administration attorney general Bill Barr encouraged Youngkin to enter the race.
“I’m for whoever can beat Trump in the primary and, while I still think some of the current candidates can do this, I’d welcome Youngkin putting his oar in,” Barr told Costa. “If the governor indicated he’d to it, I believe he would draw serious support and be a strong candidate.
Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, who was once set on DeSantis, has reportedly encouraged Youngkin to enter the GOP primary during multiple in-person meetings.
“The search for other people is very real,” Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton told Costa.
In before we get told that Trump is unelectable and we must hold our noses for Youngkin.
OR ELSE YOU WANT MICHELLE OBAMA TO WIN YOU STAY AT HOME LOSER
So they think Youngkin wants to destroy his political future like Desantis did.
Isn’t he a bit old for their taste in boys?
fixed it
Enter at your on risk Youngkin.
Trump has a History of destroying political careers.
Just ask Lying Ted, Jeb Bush, Ronnie Desantis and Mike Pence.
They don’t get it. Anybody endorsed by Bush, Barr and Bolton can’t win the primary. Anybody. I think even Trump would lose support if these three endorsed him.
The more the merrier.
Lying Ted, Jeb Bush, Ronnie Desantis and Mike Pence were the major players in their own downfall. Trump just helped them by telling the truth about them.
Younklin for VA Senate.
Youngkin is too smart to take the bait and get into this. He should try and get the Va Legislature to vote an eligibility for two terms and run for reelection.
He’s a big improvement over Joe Walsh. (Spit!)
The rNC doesn’t realize yet that they are the kiss of death. If they are pushing Youngkin it is clear that the base should shun him.
He’s the GOP front runner for 2028 and he knows it now since DeSantis destroyed himself!
Do not run Youngkin. This Virginia resident wants you to defeat one of the Rat Senators representing Virginia.
Trump is the nominee.. folks need to get off the delusion train and accept reality.
Youngkin will suffer the same fate as Desantis if he tries to run this cycle.. stay where you are and run next time, or end up harming your long term prospects.
Youngkin does not strike me as a fool. He is 56, and if he has national aspirations, he has plenty of time.
Collectively, we are looking for a MAGA successor. Of the current candidates, Ramaswamy comes closest to applying for that position. But someone who doesn’t contaminate himself in the primaries is better positioned to be anointed for the role by Trump himself when the time comes.
Since he is term limited as governor, he could even be considered for VP.
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