Fewer participants, but Donald Trump is still the favourite

Wearing red, white and blue sequined jackets and matching tote bags, they were named after Trump as they moved through the crowd.

The group of five conservative activists who call themselves the “Trump Tribe from Texas” are “1000%” behind the former US president in his third run for the White House.

The group’s leader, Michael Manuel Riod, said other Republicans should step aside. “Let the man who knows how to run this country run the country. We don’t want to divide the vote.”

That’s the message Donald Trump himself will deliver on Saturday when he delivers the keynote address at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), organized by the American Conservative Union.

A major event in the conservative political calendar, the rally has in recent years morphed into a staunchly pro-Trump cause, like his takeover of the Republican Party.

In recent polls, Trump — who launched his 2024 campaign in November — still claims he has an edge over potential challengers for the Republican nomination. Only Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a rising star who is expected to run but has yet to announce, won the poll by double digits.

But the majority of Americans generally view Trump negatively — and it is no longer the voices against him within the Republican Party that debate whether he offers the best chance to win back the White House.

Even at CPAC, where crowds are smaller than in previous years, ardent Trump supporters are confronting the Republican elephant in the room: Is Trump standing in Trump’s way?

“Donald Trump is going to have problems with the election,” Zachary Wangwa, 22, said in the audience.

He is not convinced that Mr. Trump, after losing to Joe Biden in 2020, can beat the incumbent Democrat in the next election.

Trump was a great president and did a lot for the conservative movement. Moving forward, we need to see how we can capitalize on the movement and push it to new heights.

Mr. Wanga argued that DeSantis should be the one leading the Republicans and could “miss his shot if he doesn’t show up” this time.

Arguably the biggest CPAC absence of the year, DeSantis will be the main draw this weekend at his state’s donor retreat.

The event is being organized by the increasingly conservative anti-Trump Growth Club group, and will host at least six other potential presidential candidates, including Trump’s Vice President Mike Pence.

By avoiding CPAC, DeSantis and others are “trying to avoid a pre-primary conflict with Trump,” said Lance Liang, 59, who was attending the four-day event near Washington for the first time.

He said Mr Trump “woke up a lot of people like me” and was the top pick for 2024, but agreed he would fight to beat Biden.

“You want to win, choose DeSantis. You want to do the job, choose Trump.”

Richard and Jean Belleville, both in their 80s, believe there is little difference in politics between the two men and that Mr. DeSantis has “done a great job in Florida.”

But, speaking of the last DeSantis speech he witnessed, Belleville complained: “He’s not charismatic at all.”

His wife believes the 44-year-old leader was still learning. “Give Trump another chance,” she said. DeSantis will take a chance.

Other CPAC participants have hinted they will support Mr. Trump even if he runs as an independent — a potential nightmare scenario for Republicans that could split the vote.

Robbie Warren is “Trump or Bankrupt.” “If they choose to install someone else on the 2024 ticket, they won’t get the popular vote,” she said. We are not a sect, we are a movement. »

He should start his own party,” said Teresa McManus. “I would like to see a national evening and I will be the first to register.”

But some voters point out that the race for the nomination is still in its infancy and that much could change before the first votes are cast in early 2024.

Ashlie Hightower premiered M. Trump, which is now overturned by M. DeSantis and the ancien governor of Caroline du Sud, Nikki Haley, who rejoined the doctor’s course and tried an auditorium to moitié vide at CPAC Vendredi. afternoon.

“It depends on what they say about their platform and on the issues they take a stand on,” Hightower said.

Rebecca Schmiedgal is also leaning towards Mr. Trump, but she hopes voters will take notice of Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-American businessman who launched his long-running platform in the White House.

“I don’t think he has a chance now just to get to know his name,” she said. But it will improve the conversation and advance the right agenda. »

The two women said whoever wins the Republican nomination can beat President Biden in a general election.

“We don’t have a country now. We don’t have a southern border. Our economy is in our tank. Ukraine is our 51st country,” Ms. Schmidgall said. “There’s nothing they can run on. »

But the Republican’s disappointing performance in November’s midterm elections casts doubt on the kind of message that can win the next election.

The Republicans failed to take back the Senate and barely took back the House of Representatives, with Trump accused of supporting bad candidates. Meanwhile, Governor DeSantis has recovered to run for re-election in Florida.

Trump, who has denied blaming the party’s disappointment in the midterm elections, has attacked potential challengers on social media, raising fears of a brutal and drawn-out primary that could hurt the final candidate.

“The GOP leadership must be united,” said Christopher Anderson, a staunch Trump supporter who attended his first CPAC convention. “We have to fight the Democrats, not against each other.”

Solve? Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis are on the same ticket for president and vice president.