Staff Reports
Republican presidential candidates are gearing up for their fourth debate, and once again, the big man on campus, former President Donald Trump, will be a no-show. And can you blame him? He’s ahead in the polls despite facing numerous felony indictments, and his opponents aren’t even bothering to give him a hard time about it. It’s like they say, why fix what’s not broken?
Three reasons GOP contenders aren't willing to challenge Trump head-on https://t.co/agXy5fxdP3 https://t.co/agXy5fxdP3
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 6, 2023
Trump, known as the “Teflon Don” for his ability to come out unscathed from sticky situations, is no stranger to legal trouble. With nearly 100 felony indictments hanging over his head, one might think he’d want to lay low. But not Trump! He thrives under pressure and has a knack for turning controversies into opportunities to rally his supporters.
In fact, as each new indictment against Trump is announced, his popularity seems to soar. According to RealClearPolitics, Trump is leading the pack by a whopping 48 points, leaving Governor Ron DeSantis and former Ambassador Nikki Haley in his dust. And these two have been smart enough not to go head-to-head with Trump over his legal troubles in the debates.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tried to take on Trump, and let’s just say it didn’t go so well for him. His flip-flopping on his support for Trump hasn’t done him any favors, with only 2.5% support in the polls. Talk about a tough crowd!
As for Trump’s legal battles, they’re all spread out across different courts, involving a mix of his actions as president and as a businessman. Republican voters seem to be brushing off these indictments as nothing more than partisan attacks, especially after President Joe Biden faced his own investigation without any consequences. Republican voters are calling foul play, with 80% of them believing that the charges against Trump are just political games.
But the real kicker is the veep stakes. Trump dropped former Vice President Mike Pence from his ticket, and now there’s chatter that he’s eyeing a minority or female candidate as his running mate. Two candidates who fit the bill, namely Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, will be on stage. Despite their past clashes, Haley’s strength in South Carolina and her policy positions make her a prime candidate for Trump’s ticket. And Ramaswamy, who has been a fierce Trump supporter, hasn’t uttered a word against the former president skipping the past debate.
So, while DeSantis may be taking some hits from Trump, his popularity among Florida’s Latino population could still make him a contender for the VP slot. Hey, stranger things have happened in politics!
