Many Republicans don't want Trump to be the 2024 GOP nominee. But Democrats sure do.
By: Yahoo News
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
I feel a little bad for President Joe Biden. He announced his reelection campaign Tuesday, yet 70% of Americans (and more than half of Democrats) want someone else in Biden's shoes.
Biden's approval rating remains mired in the low 40s, and let's face it: Many Democrats think he's too old. He'll turn 82 shortly after the 2024 election - and would be 86 years old before completing a second term.
These realities, however, aren't deterring Biden from his pursuit of another four years in the White House.
So Democrats are going on the defensive. They want Biden to face the weakest possible contender, and that's why some Democratic strategists are putting their money on former President Donald Trump as the Republican nominee next year.
You can bet the party will do everything in its power to make sure that's the case.
Democrats are adept at dirty tactics
Look no further than the primaries last year. The Democratic Party spent millions in targeted races around the country, essentially backing the most extreme GOP candidate - all to ensure an easier path to winning the general election.
In doing so, Democrats made the risky bet that backing fanatic MAGA election deniers would reap them victories come November. In some cases, it worked.
President Joe Biden speaks about his economic agenda in Accokeek, Md., on April 19, 2023.
Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer was a principled conservative voice in Congress (one of only 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump after the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021), but Meijer lost his reelection in the primary, thanks to dirty Democratic tricks.
Given what happened to him, Meijer understands how this political game works. When it comes to Democrats rallying for Trump, he recently observed on Twitter: "If the Democratic incumbent is popping a bottle of champagne when they realize who their Republican opponent is going to be, we probably didn't make the right choice."
Trump still enjoys a base of ardent support among GOP primary voters. Yet Democrats are betting Trump would face a much tougher electorate in the general election - especially given Trump's rocky last few years, marred by the Jan. 6 riot, multiple criminal investigations and an indictment.
Trump vs. DeSantis for 2024?: Freshly indicted Trump has gone from mocking DeSantis to begging him not to run. SAD!
A poll last week from The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 44% of Republicans don't want Trump to run for election. Among all party affiliations, that number jumps to 70%.
So Trump and Biden are heading into a possible rematch with similar numbers of Americans who wish they'd just go away.
The left, like Trump, fears DeSantis
That's why Democrats and their supporters are concerned about the likely candidacy of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He hasn't even announced he's running yet, but the Republican has caught the left's attention big time.
Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York on April 4, 2023.
In fact, DeSantis seems to have become the new target of "derangement syndrome," with liberals obsessed over his every move and decision - much like they did throughout the Trump years.
The reason? Democrats fear a face-off between DeSantis and Biden, so they are trying to torpedo him early.
While DeSantis trails Trump by double digits in national matchups, he has more than 30% of GOP support (remember, he hasn't officially gotten in the race) - far more than other declared or likely Republican contenders.
And recent polling in the battleground states of Arizona and Pennsylvania shows Biden leading Trump. But DeSantis bests Biden in those hypothetical matchups.
USA TODAY columnist Ingrid Jacques
Of course, as Trump proved in 2016 when Democrats also saw him as the weakest competitor, the now former president shouldn't be underestimated. A lot has happened, though, in the past seven years.
The fact that Democratic insiders are wishing for Trump should serve as a wake-up call to Republicans: If beating Biden is the goal, then Trump's not their guy.
Contact Ingrid Jacques, a columnist at USA TODAY, at ijacques@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden, Trump running for reelection again? America needs someone new
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These people just never stop. The writer, based on this article and other columns she has written, is a Ron DeSantis advocate. Now , because his campaign is flailing so badly, she wants to blame the Democrats, probably under the hope that MAGA will say that if the Democrats are for it (Trump) then I need to be against it (and support DeSantis).
They just go on and on trying to blame Democrats for what their voters choose. If Trump becomes the nominee it will be because Republican primary voters choose him. If they want DeSantis they will choose DeSantis. This sort of article is so dishonest.
I dont want Trump in our society any more, let alone as a presidential candidate. I wish he would go off and live on a desert island. But if he does become the GOP candidate , no part of it will be my fault. If you are a Republican it will be your fault for allowing him to remain the leader of your party.
Donald Trump, is only the leader of the MAGA gop. Joe Biden is The Leader of the Free World. Sure many di wish for a different and younger candidates, but Trump is running away with the gop nomination. So Joe Biden, who whooped Trump before, is now honor bound to do so again. And thus, "May Providence Bless Joe Biden and Keep Him Safe and Strong"...
Biden is all standing between America and the final ultimate tragedy of another Trump term.
"In fact, DeSantis seems to have become the new target of "derangement syndrome," with liberals obsessed over his every move and decision - much like they did throughout the Trump years."
Nikki Haley has been reported to have said that Biden will likely pass away in office if reelected. That's a real possibility. And guess who would succeed him.? Too awful to contemplate.
Trump will never have more votes than he has now. The same goes for Biden...the Dems know it and the Repubs know it. DeSantis will destroy Biden. It's time for the Dems to attempt to replace old senile Joe and his trusty sidekick...Kamala.
Those same Republicans/conservatives that allegedly don't want Trump want Joe Biden even less.
If this does wind up being a 2020 rematch and Trump wins what is the takeaway from that?
That there's not enough Mr. Clean to clean up all the mess from all the heads exploding????
I've said it before and I can repeat it all day long. If Biden is the Democrat nominee he will not have as easy a time as he did in 2020. He will have to get out on the campaign trail and talk with people and will have to get up on a debate stage with whoever the Republican nominee is. He will be running on his record of the past two years which is not nearly as good as the Democrats want to believe it is and will have to convince people that his plan is better for their kitchen table issues than the other side can offer. It will not be a cake walk for him.
I would really love to see two completely new people come in as the nominees for 24. I feel if it's Trump v Biden, this is just another Hollywood remake of 'Dumb and Dumber'.
In that case, if Trump were to win, expect the Bidenistas to scream bloody murder on how Trump and the Republicans cheated and stole the election from Biden and will have the left doing every single thing they claim Trump and his supporters did in the last two elections. I personally hope neither one get nominated as both have done more than their share of damage to this country. The country needs somebody new and fresh this time around
2024 is a long ways away. I'd like to see Trump answer questions under oath for 11 hours like H. Clinton did. Could he do it? Would he be able to do it for 2 hours? Would he cry? Would he whine? Would he scream, "Witch Hunt?"