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For the anti-Trump wing of the GOP, it all comes down to Tuesday
Seattle Times ^ | 1/20/24 | Lisa Lerer, Michael C. Bender and Jazmine Ulloa

Posted on 01/20/2024 6:09:07 PM PST by cotton1706

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The first-in-the-nation primary could be the last stand for the anti-Trump Republican.

Since 2016, a shrinking band of Republican strategists, retired lawmakers and donors has tried to oust Donald Trump from his commanding position in the party. And again and again, through one Capitol riot, two impeachments, three presidential elections and four criminal indictments, they have failed to gain traction with its voters.

Now, after years of legal, cultural and political crises that upended American norms and expectations, what could be the final battle of the anti-Trump Republicans won’t be waged in Congress or the courts, but in the packed ski lodges and snowy town halls of a state of 1.4 million residents.

Before New Hampshire’s primary Tuesday, the old guard of the GOP has rallied around Nikki Haley, viewing her bid as its last, best chance to finally pry the former president from atop its party. Anything but a very close finish for her in the state — where moderate, independent voters make up 40% of the electorate — would send Trump on an all-but-unstoppable march to the nomination.

The Trump opposition is outnumbered and underemployed. The former president’s polarizing style and hard-nosed tactics have pushed many Republicans who oppose him into early retirement and humiliating defeats, or out of the party completely. Yet, their long-running war against him has helped to frame the nominating contest around a central and deeply tribal litmus test: loyalty to Trump.

Gordon Humphrey, a former New Hampshire senator, was a conservative power broker during the Ronald Reagan era but left the party after Trump won the presidential nomination in 2016. This year, he has produced anti-Trump Facebook videos aimed at encouraging college students and independent voters who, polls show, are more likely to support Haley over Trump.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections; US: New Hampshire
KEYWORDS: elections
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To: Lurker

Better we find out now.


21 posted on 01/20/2024 7:46:26 PM PST by going hot
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To: going hot

Yep. He’s shown himself to be a grandstanding jerk.

I’ll never vote for him for anything now.

L


22 posted on 01/20/2024 7:56:01 PM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: stars & stripes forever

That’s a terrible picture of Trump. He looks completely defeated. Send that meme back to the body shop!


23 posted on 01/20/2024 8:33:55 PM PST by GulliverSwift
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To: Lurker

And that right there is why he was never presidential material in the first place.


24 posted on 01/20/2024 8:42:44 PM PST by Mama Shawna
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To: cotton1706

True Anti Trump TDSers have hope in Jack,Fani and Leticia, and that doesn’t all come down to Tuesday..


25 posted on 01/20/2024 9:04:51 PM PST by delchiante
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To: cotton1706

Trump has almost completely taken over the apparatus of the Republican party.


26 posted on 01/20/2024 9:10:21 PM PST by DouglasKC
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To: cotton1706

Buffoonish article, by people who hate Americans.


27 posted on 01/20/2024 9:11:27 PM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: MinorityRepublican
Governors tend to be better Presidents than Senators/Vice Presidents...I liked Nixon.

Who was a vice-President. Bill Clinton was a governor. Forgive me if I disregard your theory when it's time to vote.

28 posted on 01/20/2024 9:26:05 PM PST by MikelTackNailer (I'll settle for Make America GOOD Again. The usurping regime has made us the world's villain.)
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To: MikelTackNailer
Scratch Nixon off the list then (even though he was the Governor of California).

Bill Clinton wasn't too bad. He was corrupt. But he was conservative on many issues. Pro-death penalty. Don't ask, don't tell. Balanced budget (with help from Newt).

It was different 25 years ago, I admit. But you can compare Obama/Biden to Clinton Administrations.

29 posted on 01/20/2024 9:30:10 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: Reno89519
Apparently it is, I agree, go with substantive discussion. As a Trump supporter, and someone who campaigned for him and donated money I can say our biggest problem is so called supporters who give Trump a bad name , they do nothing but call other GOPers names, if they want to do something donate some money to Trump, knock on doors, man phone banks , knock off the grade school name calling. Otherwise we wil lose.
30 posted on 01/20/2024 9:46:27 PM PST by TECTopcat
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To: Lurker

I think you’re right on all points.


31 posted on 01/20/2024 10:37:27 PM PST by Boomer (The Long Winter is coming...)
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To: Gaffer

Yep. Nonsense.

But remember it is the Seattle Times. Total Leftist BS.


32 posted on 01/21/2024 5:36:56 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: cotton1706

This is from the Seattle Times, they long ago ceased being a news site. Pure leftards governMENTAL propaganda tools, each and everyone of them.


33 posted on 01/21/2024 5:39:36 AM PST by bigfootbob (Arm Up and Live Free!)
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To: Boomer

You are right. He chose poorly. I cannot imagine what made him think 2024 was his time. Had he waited until 2028 he would probably have been “da man” now who knows what is ahead for the Governor. Just damn, I thought he was a good governor and had a bright future…


34 posted on 01/21/2024 5:46:16 AM PST by bigfootbob (Arm Up and Live Free!)
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To: jjotto

DeSantis has already raised and spent a ridiculously large amount of money—some sources claim $300 million.

He already spent over $50 million in NH, more than President Trump.

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/12/1224348004/advertising-campaign-republican-presidential-primary

The big donors may be somewhat stupid but they are not stupid enough to keep flushing their money down the toilet.

DeSantis is currently polling in the single digits in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas and California.

He has became a CINO—Candidate In Name Only.

He canceled today’s scheduled appearance on Meet the Press.

He has suspended all advertising in all markets.

He could officially withdraw from the race at any moment.

Nikki is the Democrat’s candidate in the Republican primaries.

In closed primaries she will be burnt toast.


35 posted on 01/21/2024 5:58:18 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: Reno89519

You mean like the lies you posted about Trump some weeks back?
🤡


36 posted on 01/21/2024 6:55:25 AM PST by MotorCityBuck (Keep the change, you are filthy animal! )
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To: Reno89519

Here’s some substance.

DeSantis never had a prayer of winning the nomination. I won’t speculate on his motives, that’s between him and God. But there is no doubt about the fact that this was the most boneheaded brain dead political move in modern American history.

He not only infuriated the Trump base, about 40-50% of the Republican Party right now, he’s pissed away any chance he ever had of being a part of a Trump administration as well as any chance he had of getting the nomination in ‘28. Not to mention the phenomenal amount of money wasted that would have been far better spent electing Trump and working on tight local races.

He could have had almost any job he asked for in the next Trump administration. That’s gone forever.

And he has no one to blame but himself.

L


37 posted on 01/21/2024 7:46:32 AM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Reno89519
"How about some substantive discussion or is that too much to ask for or expect from you?"

He blew it, but it was the way Ron did it. To go from a month before your late May announcement to tripling your Unfavorables by August?

Among the many mistakes:


38 posted on 01/21/2024 8:18:27 AM PST by StAnDeliver (TrumpII)
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To: StAnDeliver

All good points—but he made an even bigger mistake that endangers him even after his withdrawal.

He intermingled his SuperPac with his official campaign in a way that will draw the attention of the FEC and then the Justice Department.

They definitely have enough to indict him for major campaign finance law violations.

Conviction may be debatable—but if they want to indict him it would be very easy to convince a Grand Jury (even a fair one) to go there.


39 posted on 01/21/2024 8:23:16 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: Reno89519
Yet, their long-running war against him has helped to frame the nominating contest around a central and deeply tribal litmus test: loyalty to Trump.

What is it with these people? Trump is a cult of personality, loyalty to Trump, etc., etc., etc.

They simply don't understand what it is about Trump that makes us want to support him. It is one simple thing.

We despise the DemocRATS and Uniparty RINO's even more. Trump despises them as we do. THAT'S WHY WE LIKE HIM.

Haley is Kamala, is Hillary, is Pelosi, is Paul Ryan, is Boehner, is the entire limp dick side of the party. We are not going to be placated, nor are we going to be talked down to or shamed into not enacting what we beleive is the proper thing to do to keep the USA, as a representative republic that is relatively free.

As for me, I would have no compunction about public trails for treason for a large portion of the DemocRAT party and for a good many of their RINO enablers like Paul Ryan.

Furthermore, Nimrata is INELEGIBLE for the office she seeks. Like Kamala Harris she is nothing but an anchor baby.

40 posted on 01/21/2024 9:25:46 AM PST by Ouderkirk (The modern world demands that we approve what it should not even dare ask us to tolerate.)
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