Before news of his imminent arrest became public, Donald Trump was the front-runner for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race — a fact that has not changed even now that he is officially a criminal defendant.
The earliest date for any trial in the case is January 2024, which coincides with the start of the Republican primary campaign and just before people in Iowa and New Hampshire vote.
There is a serious and startling possibility trump card May be sitting in the dock as voters choose who they want to run for the White House.
But polls suggest that is unlikely to be a factor in their swing.
What charges is Trump facing?
since last week when it announced that he would face chargeswith an 8-point lead over his closest Republican rival, Florida’s governor ron desantiswhich has soared to 26 percent, according to a YouGov survey.
Even considering that this could be a temporary boost because he is so prominent in the news, the possibility of DeSantis overtaking Trump is unlikely, though not impossible.
“DeSantis is still the main contender, but he’s in a very difficult position,” Republican strategist Ryan Williams told me.
“He can’t really talk about himself or his agenda in Florida or how he’s going to be a candidate right now because he has to talk about Donald Trump right now — everybody does.
“He also has to be on his side, which is unique. Usually, when you’re in competition with someone, when they find themselves at the center of a scandal like Donald Trump’s, you criticize them.”
Things are different here.
DeSantis and every other potential Republican nominee must support Trump or risk angering the party base that dominates the primaries and caucuses during the nomination process.
read more:
This is Trump because we’ve never seen him before
Glossary of Terms in the Trump Case
The ‘small town girl’ involved in Trump hush money case
florida governor ron desantis
“It seems to be just a tactic”
A trip to the Rafiki tiki bar in Florida’s Riviera Beach shows Trump supporters are unlikely to change their minds because of him legal frenzy.
Brian Belfiore
“It just seems like a ploy by the Democrats to try to make sure he doesn’t get to run in the next election that’s coming up,” Brian Belfio said.
“If he was up against Biden next time, I would definitely vote for him.”
No matter where you get the podcast, you can click to subscribe to Sky News Daily
But just a few tables away sat a group of friends from Tennessee who had very different political views than Bryan.
“I think it’s embarrassing to have a former president in court, but at least it shows that no one is above the law,” Amanda Edens said.
Amanda Edens
She added: “I was in high school when George W. Bush was elected and I remember thinking, ‘Oh, this is too bad, we don’t want someone so conservative in power’.
“I long now for the days of Bush Jr., Bush Sr., Reagan country.”