Even as the Monday quarterbacking of the last election continues, the near endless cycle of fundraising, staffing up, and jockeying for the next presidential race has informally begun.
Here are some early, probable GOP entries.
“We are an oasis of freedom in a nation that’s suffering in many parts of the country under the yoke of oppressive lockdowns,” said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at February’s Conservative Political Action Conference.
In 2018, DeSantis eked out a narrow 0.4% victory over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Today, while Gillum rebuilds his reputation from an encounter in a motel room with a gay escort and a bag of crystal meth, DeSantis is riding high, arguably the nation’s most successful governor, shunning lockdowns, mask mandates, and closures.
DeSantis said, “Florida has lower per capita COVID mortality than the national average and lower than 27 other states, our unemployment rate is lower than the national average even though tourism isn’t fully back, and our budget is in great shape. We have not touched one red cent from our rainy day fund throughout this whole time.”
A similar fate for the young, vibrant first female governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, surprised last spring with a parade celebrating her refusal to lock down nonessential businesses. When challenged about that recently, she maintained her composure and defended her open-for-business decision, saying, “You know, South Dakota’s infection rate peaked earlier than a lot of other places in the country, so we’re definitely on the downward trend. … I want people to make those decisions for themselves, and we’ve seen the CDC change recommendations over and over and over again.”
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul said, “Perhaps our experts might consider the undue fear they are installing in teachers who are now afraid to go back to work. NO ONE KNOWS!”
Paul, known for his fierce libertarian streak, and a 57% win in his last Senate race, has also won plaudits for rejecting the public health expertocracy. He’s also won favor for straddling the GOP divide — embracing Trump’s successes while rejecting his flaws, saying, ”I think we’re really mistaken in ignoring the good that he brought to us. Could it have been better sometimes? Sure. We’re all imperfect.”
Also straddling that line: former South Carolina governor and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has, in the clearest sign yet of a budding candidacy, launched a political action committee, Stand for America PAC. She both distances herself from Trump, tweeting after the Capitol riots that “there are no excuses or defense for this moment,” while praising him after CPAC, saying, “Strong speech by President Trump about the winning policies of his Administration.”
That, while building a strong independent record as a governor and U.N. ambassador.
A contrast can be found in Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, a firm Never Trumper who is well-positioned should support for the former president fade over the next few years, who said, “Politics isn’t about the word worship of one dude. The party could purge Trump skeptics, but I’d like to convince you, not only is that civic cancer for the nation, it’s just terrible for our party.”
Donald Trump Jr. said, “The forgotten men and women of this country. They want someone like Donald Trump who’s going to fight for them, who’s willing to engage for them.”
Who could be more like Trump than Donald Trump Jr.? Last week, he told Newsmax that he has “no intention” of running but added, “we’ll see.”
Then, there’s Mike Pence. Contrary to the popular perception of a falling out, the Washington Examiner reported last week Pence and Trump speak frequently.
Long known for his boundless ambition and intellect, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was dinged recently as he vacationed in Cancun, Mexico, as his state was paralyzed by a winter blast, but he acknowledged the mistake and sought redemption by volunteering. The damage may be temporary.
Also smart and ambitious: Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley. He, too, was dinged up after the Capitol riots, accused of complicity for his challenge to the electoral vote count. But he has counterpunched effectively against former Army Gen. Russel Honore, who’s running Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s riot security review, saying, “I think it’s not only extremely disrespectful, it’s really quite shocking, and this person has no business leading any security review.”
Another Midwesterner, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, has distinguished himself with withering cross-examinations of Biden staffers unlucky enough to face him, as when he confronted Housing and Urban Development nominee Marcia Fudge about her accusation that Republicans don’t care ”even a little bit about people of color.”
Cotton asked, “Do you believe that Tim Scott doesn’t care, even a little bit, about people of color?” Rep. Marcia Fudge responded, “Tim Scott happens to be a friend. I support and trust Tim Scott.”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio remains a steady force to be reckoned with. His increasingly frequent media appearances suggest an interest in a higher calling.
Another potential candidate is former congressman and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the co-architect of Trump’s “America First” foreign policy. His hanging tough against China, Russia, and Iran, as well as the peace deals in the Middle East and Kosovo, will be measured against the about-face that Biden’s foreign policy appears to have taken and how adversaries behave in the next three years.
Lastly, there is Trump himself, who at CPAC said, “A Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House, and I wonder who that will be? Who, who, who will that be? I wonder.”
Equally tantalizing is the Democratic candidate for 2024. Can the carefully controlled 78-year-old President Biden make it that far? It may be too far out for 2024 predictions, as other candidates will enter, some will rise, and others will fade. Most certainly, unpredictable disasters, whether natural, economic, or political, await us all.
