George Santos expected to unveil reelection campaign next week: Report

Ryan King

April 15, 11:07 AM April 15, 11:07 AM

Scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos (R-NY) is reportedly expected to commence his reelection campaign next week.

Last month, Santos filed paperwork to mount a reelection campaign, and the Long Island congressman is eyeing Monday as a reelection campaign launch date, a source told the New York Post. He is already facing a primary challenge and a chorus of calls to step down in the wake of his backstory embellishment scandal.

GEORGE SANTOS CHALLENGER'S PLAN TO TAKE DOWN 'MOST INEFFECTIVE MEMBER OF CONGRESS'

Santos was one of four Republicans to flip New York congressional seats red during the 2022 election cycle. However, after his victory, he quickly became engulfed in controversy after revelations emerged that he fabricated his biography and resume.

Examples include dubious claims that he was a "descendant" of Holocaust survivors and earned a degree from New York University. Santos has since conceded that he was a "terrible liar" and attributed his motivation for lying to political pressures and credentialism.

He has spurned calls for his resignation and voluntarily stepped down from his committee assignments earlier this year amid widespread backlash.

Earlier this year, Afghanistan veteran Kellen Curry announced a primary challenge against Santos, becoming one of the first Republicans to do so. Curry has lashed out at Santos's character and crusaded to restore "honest leadership" back to his congressional district.

"He absolutely defrauded the American people to get to Congress. It's not fair to the people that after he gets elected, they find out all these lies and kind of have to just wait it out," Curry previously told the Washington Examiner.

Other names, such as Republican State Sen. Jack Martins, Nassau County legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, and former Republican State Senate hopeful Stefano Forte, have been floated as potential challengers as well.

Meanwhile, Democrats have latched onto the Santos controversy in billboard campaigns as they try to reclaim the lost Empire State congressional seats.

The Washington Examiner contacted a Santos spokesperson for comment.

DeSantis super PAC puts Trump in crosshairs with 'gun-grabber' ad

Ryan King

April 15, 09:26 AM April 15, 09:26 AM

A pro-Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) super PAC dropped an advertisement targeting former President Donald Trump as a "gun-grabber" amid the National Rifle Association leadership forum.

Both Trump and DeSantis addressed the NRA event Friday, where the PAC, Never Back Down, targeted its ad and planned to distribute fliers with similar messages, blasting the former president for siding with liberals. The attack ad follows one from MAGA Inc, painting DeSantis as having "pudding fingers."

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"Trump promised NRA members he’d have their back," the spot declared. "But when Second Amendment rights came under attack, Trump abandoned us and stood with liberal Democrats."

The ad highlighted Trump's remarks in the wake of the 2018 Parkland School shooting that left 17 dead, in which he appeared to soften his position on guns. It also flagged Trump's past support for red flag laws, increasing the age for assault weapons purchases, and calls for "taking the guns early."

"Half of you are so afraid of the NRA," Trump said in the clip. "We have to fight them every once in a while, that’s OK."

During his NRA speech, Trump struck a dramatically different tone and affirmed his unabashed support for the Second Amendment. He also periodically mocked DeSantis, his likely primary foe, as "DeSanctus" during his remarks.

"I was proud to be the most pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment president you've ever had in the White House," Trump said Friday. "I think that's been acknowledged, and with your support, in 2024, I will be your loyal friend and fearless champion once again as the 47th president of the United States."

DeSantis also addressed the NRA gathering via prerecorded remarks as he traveled between Virginia to address the Liberty University Convocation and New Hampshire for the Amos Tuck dinner.

"As governor, I've resisted calls to take up gun control even when such a stand is superficially unpopular because I understand that it is precisely at those moments when a right is unpopular that it needs true champions," the governor said.

Never Back Down is a super PAC formed by former Republican Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in hopes of crafting a springboard for a DeSantis run. The group is not officially affiliated with the governor.

Recently, MAGA Inc, a super PAC aligned with Trump, took out an ad roasting DeSantis over reports that he once ate pudding on a plane with his fingers, something he denied doing.

The group used that to attack DeSantis as having "his dirty fingers all over senior entitlements, like cutting Medicare, slashing Social Security, even raising our retirement age."

Protesters storm stage during DeSantis speech in New Hampshire

Ryan King

April 14, 06:55 PM April 14, 07:11 PM

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — A handful of protesters rushed the stage during Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) address to the New Hampshire GOP's largest annual fundraising gala.

They came remarkably close to the governor before being quickly ushered off the stage.

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"Gotta have a little spice in the speech," DeSantis quipped, though he appeared slightly startled.

DeSantis gave his speech at the 2023 Amos Tuck Dinner Friday before the New Hampshire State Republican Party. A small hodgepodge of demonstrators briefly flashed MAGA and progressive signs outside the complex before his address.

The disruption came within about five minutes of him beginning his remarks.

Over 500 people sat for his speech, including local leaders and political figures such as Republican state House Majority Leader Jason Osborne and former Massachusetts GOP Sen. Scott Brown.

State Republican Chairman Chris Ager said the party amassed a roughly $380,000 haul as of Friday, dubbing it the "largest ever" for the state party.

Trump offers 2024 advice to 'young man' Ron DeSantis, warns of dividing GOP

Ryan King

April 10, 01:00 PM April 10, 01:01 PM

Former President Donald Trump played adviser to his top primary threat, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), on the 2024 cycle and Republican unity.

"Ron DeSantis is a young man who is not doing well against me in the polls, to put it mildly. I believe that if he decides to run for President, which will only hurt and somewhat divide the Republican Party, he will lose the cherished and massive MAGA vote, and never be able to successfully run for office again," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

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"If he remains Governor, which is what Florida voters assumed, it would be a whole different story …. JUST SAYIN’ — But who knows," the former president said.

Although Trump has been pegged consistently as the leader heading into the crowded GOP primary, he has periodically taken shots at DeSantis, who is now polling in second place in a hypothetical GOP field, per the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.

DeSantis has barnstormed multiple early states, touting Florida as a blueprint for the country writ large. He has been coy about his presidential aspirations and indicated that an announcement could come at some point after the Florida state legislature concludes its session in May.

So far, DeSantis has visited or plans to stop in Iowa, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Utah, Texas, and Israel, among other locations.

Trump's campaign recently cut an ad bashing his potential Florida foe and has reportedly sought to lure donors away from him.

Trump's reign as the king of the nascent GOP primary was buoyed by his recent indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. DeSantis has criticized the indictment and indicated he would not assist with an extradition request.

"The only reason I have these absolutely ridiculous investigations against me, headed up by racists, lunatics, and radical left maniacs, is for purposes of election interference. It will be harder for the democrats to cheat like they did in 2020, so they are going right to the old soviet union playbook," Trump wrote in another post using only uppercase letters.

DeSantis set to pay first public visit to South Carolina amid 2024 buzz

Ryan King

April 10, 08:32 AM April 10, 08:32 AM

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is set to embark on his first public event in South Carolina of the year as 2024 speculations mounts.

State Sen. Josh Kimbrell, a Republican, invited DeSantis to a speaking event on April 19 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and has collaborated with a political action committee seeking to recruit him into the presidential contest. DeSantis attended a gubernatorial fundraiser near Charleston, South Carolina, last year.

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“I’ve told everybody associated with his team, ’You’ve got to get here early and often,'” Kimbrell told the . “I’ve tried to make it clear to them that if you want to win, you’ve got to get here early.”

Over recent months, an entourage of 2024 hopefuls and speculated aspirates have made various stops in South Carolina, which is the third state on the GOP primary calendar following the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary election.

DeSantis has maintained a brisk travel itinerary as he tests the waters for a possible presidential run. So far, he has visited or plans to visit Iowa, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Utah, Texas, and Israel, among other states.

The Florida governor has been crisscrossing the country to promote his memoir, The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival, and touting the Sunshine State as a model for other states. The Trump campaign has accused him of mounting a stealth run for president.

South Carolina is home to declared Republican hopeful former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) and possible 2024 contender Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). This week, Scott is set to travel to Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, where he will deliver a "political update" to donors.

DeSantis has widely been pegged as the top competitor against former President Donald Trump in a hypothetical GOP primary. He is expected to make his presidential intentions known at some point after the Florida state legislature wraps up its session in May.

"I believe that Ron DeSantis is as popular among my base as Trump is," Kimbrell added. "But you can’t just mail it in. He's going to have to press the flesh, roll his sleeves up, and get really serious."

Trump campaign veteran recruited by 2024 GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy

Ryan King

April 06, 09:24 AM April 06, 09:24 AM

Entrepreneur and bestselling author Vivek Ramaswamy has recruited a veteran of former President Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 New Hampshire campaigns.

State Rep. Fred Doucette, a Republican who co-chaired both Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaign operations in the Granite State, will now co-chair and serve as a strategist for Ramaswamy in New Hampshire, marking a significant pickup for the Republican hopeful.

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"Fred gets things done. He has a proven track record of leadership, delivering results and winning," Ramaswamy said in a statement, per WHD News. "We’re taking America First to the next level, and I am confident Fred will be a key asset in our mission in the crucible of New Hampshire politics."

Ramaswamy has campaigned heavily in the Granite State, which is set to remain the first GOP primary election following the Iowa caucuses. He is slated to stump in the Granite State next week on a bus tour across 10 counties.

In addition to his extensive campaign experience in the key early primary state, Doucette also works as the deputy majority leader in the state House. Despite his history with Trump, Doucette dubbed the GOP front-runner's campaign as "flat" and reckoned there is a pathway to victory for Ramaswamy.

"Vivek is the person who will deliver the America First agenda, without the drama," Doucette argued in a statement.

By jumping ship, Doucette joins several other New Hampshire Trump campaign alumni, including GOP strategist Josh Whitehouse, who will work as the state director.

Ramaswamy announced his campaign in February and is one of four prominent Republicans in the primary contest, including Trump, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR). Myriad other Republicans are also considering a run.

Trump maintains a toehold on the field, while Ramaswamy is polling in ninth place, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.

Recently, the Trump campaign tapped Trevor Naglieri, an alumnus of his bitter 2016 foe Jeb Bush, to become its state director for New Hampshire.

Youngkin 2024 speculation dampened as top adviser signs with DeSantis PAC

Ryan King

March 23, 12:56 PM March 23, 12:56 PM

Buzz about Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R-VA) interest in diving into the 2024 election scrum is fading after a top adviser joined a group aligned with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).

Jeff Roe, who co-founded Axiom Strategies, a Republican political consulting firm, has signed on with Never Back Down, a DeSantis-aligned political action committee expected to be a boost for the Florida governor's potential 2024 presidential campaign, according to multiple reports.

HERITAGE’S 50TH TO FOCUS ON NEW CONSERVATIVE LEADERS, DESANTIS AND YOUNGKIN

Axiom Strategies helped Youngkin eke out a victory in a strongly blue state back in 2021, which fueled Republican hopes that they would surf a red wave in the midterm elections that failed to materialize. Roe told confidants that he felt loyalty to Youngkin and anticipated Axiom would only work for one 2024 candidate, the Washington Post reported.

Youngkin stoked speculation that he is harboring presidential aspirations by crisscrossing the country during the run-up to the midterm elections and stumping for Republican candidates locked in contentious races. Some of those states included early primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.

Roe, who also served as a top strategist for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during his 2016 campaign, previously conveyed his belief that the 2024 GOP primary was a two-man race.

"This is a two-person race between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis. Nearly 75% of the voters have chosen between those two," Roe told WHD News Sunday last month. "A lot of people were talking about a crazy barroom brawl. I don't think so at all ... there's simply no room — for a third and fourth or even fifth person in this race."

He later clarified that those remarks were not intended to diminish Youngkin, who is term-limited as governor.

On top of traversing key states, Youngkin has also maintained a robust national portfolio in conservative circles. Next month, he is set to attend a welcome reception for the Heritage Foundation’s 50th leadership summit, which spans April 20-21.

Youngkin is also slated to head to Texas to be a guest of honor at an event held by a billionaire Republican donor, in a trip that is set to coincide with a speech at former President George W. Bush's presidential library, NBC reported.

While stopping short of ruling out a run, Youngkin has seemingly downplayed his aspirations. During a recent donor retreat appearance, Youngkin appeared uninterested in feeding speculation about 2024, per the Washington Post.

Polling has consistently indicated that he is trailing former President Donald Trump and DeSantis by a considerable margin, failing to broach double digits.

Never Back Down was launched earlier this month by Ken Cuccinelli, who served as the attorney general of Virginia between 2010 and 2014. The group intends to serve as a financial springboard for DeSantis's potential presidential campaign. DeSantis has indicated that a campaign announcement could come sometime after the Florida legislature wraps up its business in May.

The Washington Examiner contacted Roe for comment.

Pence warns of entitlement and debt 'iceberg' sinking US in break with Trump

Ryan King

March 21, 07:00 PM March 21, 07:00 PM

Former Vice President Mike Pence struck a dire tone about the looming threats of insolvency in Medicare and Social Security while blasting politicians who shy away from reform.

Warning about an impending debt crisis, Pence argued that the longer Congress waits to act, the worse the outlook will become. He argued that there are ways of remedying entitlement programs with "compassionate reforms" that will "give younger Americans a better deal."

PENCE DITHERS ON IF HE COULD EVER SUPPORT TRUMP AGAIN: 'YET TO BE SEEN'

"We often hear that Medicare is just five years away from insolvency, Social Security's 10 years away, but that's just the tip of the iceberg," Pence said. "That's only the beginning of a debt crisis that your generation will face. If this generation doesn't face it today, that iceberg could sink American prosperity by the time you reach my age."

Refraining from detailing or providing too many specifics on how he'd tackle entitlement reform, Pence noted that it's a dicey political issue to address in a speech that reflected on the outlook for future generations.

"In 30 years, Americans will be faced with either cutting programs that seniors depend on at the point of the need or doubling middle-class taxes and crushing our economy under a taxation system that would look more like European taxes than our own," Pence fretted.

His remarks came during a featured address at an event for Washington and Lee University's Mock Convention, a 115-year custom in which students gather to predict who the nominee will become for the party out of power. They have successfully predicted the Republican nominee for over 70 years in a row.

Pence has previously beckoned his party not to shy away from entitlement reform, warning that both Social Security and Medicare are projected to run into insolvency.

Entitlements have emerged as a key flashpoint in the budding 2024 brawl. President Joe Biden, who has yet to declare his 2024 campaign, has pummeled the GOP on entitlements, chiding that "their dream is to cut Social Security and Medicare" and vowing to be their "nightmare" on that issue.

"Joe Biden's policy is insolvency," Pence contended during his address. "The American people deserve to know that President Biden won't even discuss commonsense reforms of Social Security and Medicare."

Republicans have increasingly balked at the prospect of venturing into the political minefield of entitlements. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has deemed Medicare and Social Security off the table during debt ceiling negotiations. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has conveyed a similar sentiment as well.

"Too many leaders in my political party take the same position. But that's just not acceptable. Now, if that frustrates you, good. It should because it'll be your generation that's robbed of your dreams and opportunities," Pence said.

Former President Donald Trump has drawn battle lines with his 2024 foes on entitlement reform, illustrating a schism within the GOP.

“Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security to help pay for Joe Biden’s reckless spending spree, which is more reckless than anybody’s ever done or had in the history of our country,” Trump proclaimed in a Truth Social video in January.

Other 2024 aspirants, such as former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who launched her campaign in February, have been more receptive to entitlement reform. Haley, who has made paring back the federal "spending binge" a core tenet of her campaign, has underscored that she won't "take from anyone that's been promised" but is keen on keeping programs solvent.

Last week, Pence stopped in New Hampshire and Iowa, key early primary states.

Pence is currently running in third place in a hypothetical GOP primary, per the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate. He previously indicated he and his wife are "continuing to give prayerful consideration to entering the race" and eye spring as a timeline for a decision.

Manhattan DA inquiry: Trump campaign raises money off indictment frenzy

Ryan King

March 21, 05:02 PM March 21, 05:02 PM

Former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign is seeking to convert his possible indictment from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office into a boon for fundraising.

In an email to supporters, the Trump campaign flashed a photo that purportedly showed New York Police Department officers erecting a barricade at a New York City court amid reports that charges against Trump are imminent. The campaign insisted that Trump has committed "no crime" and claimed a donation will have a "1,500% impact."

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"Barricades are being set up around Manhattan Criminal Court — as our nation awaits an announcement on whether President Donald J. Trump will be INDICTED despite having committed NO CRIME," the fundraising email reads.

On Saturday, Trump fueled speculation that he will be slapped with an indictment by claiming he "will be arrested on Tuesday." A spokesperson for him later clarified that he had not received “notification” about a potential indictment and was largely riffing off media reports.

Prosecutors are eyeing an alleged $130,000 hush money payment wired to porn star Stormy Daniels, also known as Stephanie Gregory Clifford, during the tail end of the 2016 election. In exchange, Trump's then-lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, apparently procured her signature on a nondisclosure agreement to stay quiet about an alleged affair with Trump nearly a decade prior.

Possible charges are believed to encompass an alleged business document falsification concerning the payment as well as a campaign finance violation. Trump has adamantly denied wrongdoing and contests claims he had an affair with Daniels.

New York officials were on "high alert day" Tuesday despite not receiving credible threats of civil unrest, CNN reported. Trump issued a battle cry to his supporters over the weekend, telling them to “protest, take our nation back.”

Critics seethed at that call, drawing parallels to Trump's speech at the White House Ellipse in which he fired up his supporters before a mob stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

In response to Trump, a representative for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg maintained that his office “will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process, nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law.”

Trump is currently the front-runner in the 2024 GOP primary for the presidency.

Several of his declared and potential rivals have railed against reports that Bragg's team is set to lodge an indictment against Trump.

Sununu says Democrats 'misplayed' possible Trump indictment

Ryan King

March 19, 10:16 AM March 19, 10:16 AM

Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) argued that Democrats have "misplayed" the possible indictment of former President Donald Trump for the alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump claimed Saturday that he expects to be "arrested on Tuesday," though an exact timeline of when he could be indicted is not fully clear. Sununu downplayed the accusations against Trump and suggested that targeting Trump over a "misdemeanor" would fuel sympathy for him.

TRUMP SAYS HE EXPECTS TO BE ARRESTED NEXT WEEK IN STORMY DANIELS INVESTIGATION

"A lot of the Democrats have misplayed this in terms of building sympathy for the former president, and it does drastically change the paradigm as we go into the 2024 elections," Sununu said on CNN's State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. "

"I was [out] with coffee this morning with some folks, and none of them were big Trump supporters, but they all said they felt like he was being attacked," Sununu added. "This is likely some sort of misdemeanor on an issue seven years ago. This has nothing to do with January 6. There's folks out there that still think this has something to do with January 6."

Sununu has long been an outspoken critic of Trump and mused about a 2024 run. Prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney's office have been weighing possible charges against Trump over an alleged $130,000 hush money payment made to Daniels during the 2016 election cycle to stay quiet about an alleged affair they had roughly a decade prior.

Statute of limitations could complicate a potential campaign finance case against Trump, but prosecutors are also zeroing in on the alleged falsification of business records. They have met with Daniels and Michael Cohen, a former Trump lawyer and fixer. Cohen previously pleaded guilty in 2018 to a charge pertaining to the alleged payment.

New York law enforcement has reportedly begun crafting plans to prepare for security in the event of a Trump indictment. A least one more witness is expected to be questioned Monday.

"This is untested. There's a question about why they're doing it — something seven years ago. It's not a nothing," Sununu added. "There's much more pressing issues of the day. It's just unfortunate this is taking the headlines."

Trump issued a clarion call to his followers, urging them to "protest, take our nation back." Sununu underscored that protests should be peaceful.

Sununu has been mulling a run for president in 2024. He appeared to indicate that he will likely make a decision by the summer months.

"All of us have to make some sort of decision as we hit the summer months. I'd love to be in a debate if we actually go down that path. I just think that'd be really fun," he said. "Our message is really gaining traction. It's about competency-related results, leadership that can bring something to the table."

Chris Christie rips DeSantis's Ukraine take: 'Hopelessly naive or hopelessly cynical'

Ryan King

March 15, 06:28 PM March 15, 06:28 PM

Former New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie ripped Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) characterization of the conflict in Ukraine as a "territorial dispute."

Joining a bevy of other Republicans speaking out against the Florida governor's remarks, Christie contended that "DeSantis is either hopelessly naive or hopelessly cynical" with his take on the war in Ukraine, stressing that the conflict is a bloody war of aggression by Russia.

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"This is not a territorial dispute, as Gov. DeSantis said. A territorial dispute is when you take a survey of your property at home and your neighbor's fence is 6 inches over your property line," Christie told the Washington Examiner. "This is an authoritarian regime who is invading a sovereign democratic country and trying to take its land by force."

Earlier in the week, WHD News host Tucker Carlson read responses from potential 2024 GOP aspirants to his questions about Ukraine. DeSantis argued that "becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia" is not in America's vital national interests.

“While the U.S. has many vital national interests — securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness with our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party — becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,” DeSantis told Carlson.

Christie conveyed to Carlson that he viewed "Russia’s aggression against Ukraine [as] a national security issue that threatens our alliances and our standing in the world."

Other prominent Republicans, such as 2024 GOP hopeful and onetime U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Senate Republican Whip John John Thune (SD), and Sens. Lindsey Graham (SC), and Marco Rubio (FL), have publicly split from DeSantis on Ukraine.

"All we're doing is helping the Ukrainians defend themselves," Christie continued. "If America walks away from that leadership role in the world, believe me, that vacuum will be filled ... by the Chinese and the Russians. And that will not make it a safer or more secure world. I think on this, Gov. DeSantis is either hopelessly naive or hopelessly cynical."

DeSantis has been widely pegged in second place after former President Donald Trump by myriad polls of a hypothetical 2024 GOP primary.

Christie also laid out a time frame for when he will decide on whether or not he will run in 2024.

"Next 45 to 60 days," Christie said. "I think running for president of the United States is an intensely personal decision. And that's one that anybody who's considering it should have the right to make on their own, regardless of anybody else's thoughts on it."

Larry Hogan leaves door open to backing DeSantis in 2024 despite differences

Ryan King

March 07, 07:17 PM March 07, 07:17 PM

Former Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan begrudgingly left open the possibility of backing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for president despite their profound differences.

Fresh off his bowing out of consideration for the 2024 GOP primary, Hogan reiterated his long-standing staunch opposition to former President Donald Trump reclaiming the party nod and underscored that "DeSantis would not be my favorite" while demurring when repeatedly pressed on whether he could support him for president.

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"I think [DeSantis] is the younger, maybe smarter version of Donald Trump, but he's fishing for the same exact same MAGA base, and he's trying to appeal to them," Hogan told PBS NewsHour. "I've said I wouldn't support Donald Trump, but I'm anxious to see how Gov. DeSantis performs."

Hogan quickly emerged as one of Trump's loudest Republican detractors. On occasion, he has also dinged DeSantis's culture war policies, deeming them "big government and authoritarian" approaches that he opposes.

"We don't agree on a lot of things. We're completely different in many respects, in tone and style and substance," Hogan added. "We'll just have to see how the campaign plays out."

A torrent of polling has pegged DeSantis as Trump's top competitor for the 2024 GOP primary. He has yet to declare but is reportedly eyeing a summertime announcement after the Florida state legislature concludes its session.

In January, Hogan stepped down as governor. Despite being a Republican in a deep blue state, he was one of the most popular governors in the country, which sparked some presidential speculation, though polls showed him getting trounced by his Republican peers in a primary. He took note of his odds when he bowed out.

"There are several competent Republican leaders who have the potential to step up and lead. But the stakes are too high for me to risk being part of another multicar pileup that could potentially help Mr. Trump recapture the nomination," Hogan said in a statement Sunday.

Still, Hogan maintains that there is an ongoing "battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party" and has some advice for the GOP. Hogan has prodded Republicans to focus on appealing to moderate voters rather than focusing on throwing red meat to the base.

"If the Republican Party wants to get back to winning again so that they can govern, then they're going to have to have a message that appeals to a wider group of people," Hogan told NPR. "And I think kind of doubling down on the rhetoric just to appeal to the base may backfire in a general election."

Rather than dwell on peddling dubious claims that the 2020 election was stolen, Hogan contends that the party should focus on the economy, crime, education, and other pocketbook issues.

"Most Americans are looking for leadership that focuses on getting things done and common sense solutions that can bring people together. They want a hopeful, positive vision for America, not just divisiveness and performative politics," he tweeted.

Allies of Marianne Williamson lay out game plan to take down Biden

Ryan King

March 04, 08:16 PM March 04, 08:16 PM

Top Democrats have roundly shrugged off bestselling self-help author Marianne Williamson’s nascent campaign, but her allies are optimistic that she has a path for an upset.

Keenly aware of the uphill battle before them, Williamson’s team is banking on President Joe Biden’s history of fumbling in early primary states as well as her charisma, in order to undercut his expected coronation. Williamson became the first higher-profile Democrat to officially jump into the 2024 Democratic field Saturday.

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“I love a longshot candidate,” Carlos Cardona, the New Hampshire state director for the Williamson campaign, told the Washington Examiner. “They keep calling her a long shot, but it's because they're scared of the system that she's gonna disrupt. We know that underdogs perform very well, especially in the first primary states.”

Cardona sees the Granite State as a golden opportunity for Williamson given Biden’s recent push to dethrone it from its perch as the first Democratic primary election state. Local leaders have pushed back hard, but the Democratic National Committee appears poised to supplant it with South Carolina nonetheless.

“Joe Biden has made it very crystal clear that New Hampshire is not a priority to him. So I think Granite Staters are opening their hearts up to the possibility of other candidates coming into the Granite State,” he said.

Biden clinched a lackluster fifth place in New Hampshire in the 2020 primary. His campaign appeared to be on life support afterward until the South Carolina election, a state now poised to lead off the primary process.

After the Palmetto State, the Democratic primary is then set to turn to New Hampshire and Nevada, which are jointly slated to be the second primary election.

“Joe Biden doesn't have the energy. The Republicans don't have the same amount of energy as someone like that. So she can bring the people out and she'll be able to win,” New Hampshire state Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D) said.

Her campaign debut was met with hundreds of supporters clustered in Union Station, Washington, D.C. Attendees included YouTubers Krystal Ball, co-host of Breaking Points, and Kyle Kulinski, host of the Kyle Kulinski Show.

Williamson did not mention Biden by name during her speech, but referenced his victory in 2020, contending that while “we didn’t go over the cliff,” the country is “still six inches away from it.” Many in attendance were lukewarm on Biden — not fiercely opposed, but craving someone with more progressive ambitions and charm.

“I think Biden is doing an OK job. But I think Marianne is willing to push it further,” attendee Nathan Russell said. “I think that even if it's Marianne running, then you have someone at least trying to change what's happening.”

“She's bold. And I think that in a political climate that we have today, boldness in the right way is necessary for change,” added attendee Breje Williams.

Supporters also acknowledged that Williamson is entering the political fray as an underdog.

“It's going to be a bit of an uphill [contest],” attendee Liz Beth said. “But you know what Trump got in and that was a surprise. We're open to surprises. This will be a better surprise.”

Despite the odds, they were eager to see the Democratic “establishment” challenged by someone. But not everyone there had an ironclad commitment to her candidacy.

“It’s nice seeing someone from the Democratic Party running against the incumbent president,” Mohammad Aqil said. “I don't think I prefer her over Biden just yet. But I do want to see what she has to say.”

One audience member named Jake, who declined to provide his last name, identified himself as a Biden supporter there for kicks.

“He's a serious person,” Jake said. “Some of the things that she said when she ran in 2020 were a little offputting. I think it's also very weird to be challenging an incumbent Democratic president of your own party.”

In the 2020 cycle, Williamson made a splash for her unorthodox campaign and advocacy for a politics of love. She ultimately dropped out before the nomination primaries and caucuses got underway. She then endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Following her campaign launch Saturday, Williamson will barnstorm South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Michigan. Biden has yet to declare his reelection bid but has said he “intends” to and is reportedly eyeing an announcement in April.

DeSantis to barnstorm early primary states amid 2024 chatter

Ryan King

February 28, 03:45 PM February 28, 03:45 PM

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) will reportedly traverse at least three early presidential primary states over the coming weeks, touting his record as 2024 chatter looms.

His travel itinerary will feature a trip to Iowa in March, with stops in Davenport and Des Moines, followed by a visit to Nevada and then Manchester, New Hampshire, while his team also mulls a possible trip to South Carolina as well, the New York Times reported.

JEB BUSH SAYS HE IS 'PRAISING, NOT ENDORSING’ DESANTIS FOR 2024 ELECTION

Top of the agenda for DeSantis will likely be his new book, The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival, which hit bookshelves Tuesday, but privately the venture is considered a test of the political waters as the governor eyes an entrance into the 2024 Republican primary field.

Candidates typically venture into battleground states in the run-up to a campaign launch. Over recent weeks, a cadre of prospective candidates such as former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) have crisscrossed battleground states such as New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina as they mull a run.

One distinction from other Republicans such as Pence, who have released a book and then embarked on book tours, is that DeSantis plans to hold speaking engagements to outline his so-called blueprint for the nation discussed in his book.

Florida has strict rules that oversee what can be accepted as a gift, which may hinder DeSantis's ability to embark on a traditional book tour, per the report.

DeSantis will skip the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., this week and avoid a split-screen with former President Donald Trump at the grassroots conservative venue.

However, he is expected to attend the Club for Growth’s private donor retreat in Palm Beach over the weekend and make an appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library as well.

Last weekend, DeSantis huddled with conservative influencers and donors at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, not far from Mar-a-Lago.

DeSantis has routinely polled as the top GOP challenger to Trump and has said he will unveil his 2024 intentions after the next Florida legislative session, which starts next month. He is currently in second place after Trump in a hypothetical GOP primary, per the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.

Nearly all Republican senators bow out of 2024 race, while governors gear up

Ryan King

February 26, 03:48 PM February 26, 03:48 PM

As the 2024 race heats up, Republican senators have kept a wide berth from the presidential arena.

Despite the Senate being packed with ambitious, big-name politicians, Republicans in the upper chamber have been hesitant about going toe-to-toe with former President Donald Trump in a marked departure from past elections. Meanwhile, hoards of Republican governors are gearing up for a potential run.

MANCHIN SIDESTEPS QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER HE WILL RUN FOR SENATE IN 2024

Back in the 2016 cycle, at least five of the 17 major Republicans served in the Senate at one point, including Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Rick Santorum (R-PA), who is no longer a senator.

This time, however, virtually all of the top Republican senators have declined to run and have actively refrained from cultivating buzz about them running.

Multiple prominent Republicans, such as Cruz, Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Rick Scott (R-FL), are up for reelection in the Senate. The trio has maintained that they will stick to running for reelection rather than enter the 2024 presidential lions' den.

Some of those three, particularly Cruz, maintained an active profile in the 2022 election cycle, crisscrossing the country or headlining fundraisers on behalf of Republicans in the midterm elections.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), the 2012 Republican nominee who is also up for reelection and has been an unabashed critic of Trump, has been clear he has no intentions of running either. He also has not committed to vying for a second term in the upper chamber.

Even prominent Republicans who aren't up for reelection in the 2024 cycle, such as Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AK), Rubio, and Paul, have seemingly passed on a 2024 stint.

Perhaps the one major exception is Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who has embarked on a "Faith in America" listening tour that featured sessions in South Carolina and Iowa as he eyes an entrance into the 2024 fray.

This is a stark departure from most election cycles since 2000, in which Senators played a pronounced role in presidential primaries. Instead of Senators, the 2024 Republican season is shaping up to be rife with governors.

Trump's first major GOP primary challenge was former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. His top speculated foe is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Meanwhile, a bevy of current and former Republican governors, such as Chris Sununu (NH), Chris Christie (NJ), Asa Hutchinson (AK), Larry Hogan (MD), Glenn Youngkin (VA), and Kristie Noem (SD), are eyeing the 2024 field.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is mulling a run, also previously served as governor of Indiana.

Trump and DeSantis consistently dominate the polling of the 2024 GOP field, with no other candidates clinching double-digits, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.

Manchin sidesteps question about whether he will run for Senate in 2024

Ryan King

February 26, 12:44 PM February 26, 12:53 PM

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) sidestepped questions about whether he will run for reelection in 2024 amid reports of him privately flip-flopping on the matter.

Host Maria Bartiromo asked the senator about his election plans for 2024, noting that he ruled out running for president in a recent radio interview but has been mum about whether he will run for Senate or governor.

MANCHIN 'CHANGED HIS MIND MULTIPLE TIMES' ABOUT RUNNING AGAIN AS FUNDRAISING STALLS

"My main concern is how do we bring this country together. How do we make it work, how do we make Democrats, Republicans become Americans again, and not just party affiliates," Manchin replied during an interview with WHD News's Sunday Morning Futures.

"I'm going to do whatever I can to help my country come together, and my state come together," he later added.

When she pressed him about whether he still identifies as a Democrat, Manchin quipped, "I identify as an American." Manchin won his statewide race in an area where former President Donald Trump won by nearly 40 percentage points in 2020.

Polls indicate that he would have stiff competition if West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) enters the race. So far, his main declared rival is Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), whom he is leading in some recent polls. Part of his concerns about running for reelection stems from concerns about losing to Justice, per Puck News.

Manchin's seat is one of the most vulnerable in the 2024 Senate election cycle that is shaping up to have one of the most brutal maps for Democrats in decades. Democrats will have to defend 23 seats held by the party, including three held by Democratic-aligned independent senators, while the GOP will only have to defend 11.

The West Virginia senator was pivotal in giving President Joe Biden one of his signature legislative victories with the $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act after having torpedoed multiple iterations of Biden's so-called Build Back Better agenda.

"This administration has sold that as an environmental bill only. It is an energy security bill. We're not going to be expanding all of the new technology for renewables as some people would wish unless we have the horsepower to run our country," Manchin reflected on the bill. "It's not been sold that way, and it's unfortunate."

When asked whether he had any regrets about backing the Inflation Reduction Act, especially in light of the reported permitting reforms he sought failing to manifest, Manchin said "no" and cited its boon for United States energy.

"If people don't think that bill is working, then why is Europe so upset? Because everyone's coming to America now to make these investments. So, it's going to be a great bill," Manchin quipped.