Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 US presidential race next week, media reports said citing sources familiar with the decision. It is highly anticipated that DeSantis will file paperwork declaring his candidacy on May 25, which would also coincide with a donor meeting in Miami.&nbsp;

The source familiar with the May 25 donor meeting confirmed that the invitation for the event states donors would be put to “work,” a clear indication to raise money for DeSantis’ election campaign. If sources are to be believed, DeSantis will have a more formal launch in the week of May 29.&nbsp;

<h2>Trump v/s DeSantis</h2>

DeSantis’ rising profile among Republicans and fundraising skills makes him one of the biggest threats to Trump, who in recent weeks has increased political attacks on the Florida governor on issues ranging from Ukraine to Florida’s economic record as well as personal attacks on DeSantis’ social skills and his dealings with state legislators.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-kamala-harris-woo-donors-for-presidential-election-2024-re-run-587819">Joe Biden, Kamala Harris woo donors for presidential election 2024 re-run</a>

These political attacks on DeSantis by Trump have resulted in a hit on DeSantis’ political standing in national polls. However, DeSantis and his advisers had hoped to use the legislature’s session as a facilitator to a campaign announcement and have successfully managed just that.&nbsp;

DeSantis’ insistence on staying out of the political race until the Florida legislature completed its spring session earlier this month had upset some high-profile Republican donors, who wanted him to jump in the race sooner rather than later to rebut Trump.

WATCH |&nbsp;Trump attacks Biden after he announces 2024 re-election bid

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His entry to the US presidential race will not only make him Trump’s biggest rival for the Republican nomination, but will also shake things up in a competition which has largely been one-sided so far. However, if Reuters/Ipsos polls are to be believed, former president Donald Trump maintains commanding lead in the 2024 Republican outreach and an undeniable hold in the Republican Party.&nbsp;

<h2>DeSantis’ growing profile</h2>

Several Republican lawmakers were able to deliver a horde of victories to DeSantis in the recent few months by expanding the state’s school voucher programme, prohibiting the use of public money in sustainable investing efforts, scrapping diversity programmes at public universities, allowing for the permit-less carry of concealed weapons and the most significant — ban on all abortions in the state.

DeSantis’ new political action committee, Never Back Down, aimed at raising unlimited funds, has been hiring staff in early voting states and running TV ads championing DeSantis and knocking Trump.

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Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 US presidential race next week, media reports said citing sources familiar with the decision.

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 US presidential race next week, media reports said citing sources familiar with the decision. It is highly anticipated that DeSantis will file paperwork declaring his candidacy on May 25, which would also coincide with a donor meeting in Miami. The source familiar with the May 25 donor meeting confirmed that the invitation for the event states donors would be put to “work,” a clear indication to raise money for DeSantis’ election campaign. If sources are to be believed, DeSantis will have a more formal launch in the week of May 29. Trump v/s DeSantis DeSantis’ rising profile among Republicans and fundraising skills makes him one of the biggest threats to Trump, who in recent weeks has increased political attacks on the Florida governor on issues ranging from Ukraine to Florida’s economic record as well as personal attacks on DeSantis’ social skills and his dealings with state legislators. ALSO READ | Joe Biden, Kamala Harris woo donors for presidential election 2024 re-run These political attacks on DeSantis by Trump have resulted in a hit on DeSantis’ political standing in national polls. However, DeSantis and his advisers had hoped to use the legislature’s session as a facilitator to a campaign announcement and have successfully managed just that. DeSantis’ insistence on staying out of the political race until the Florida legislature completed its spring session earlier this month had upset some high-profile Republican donors, who wanted him to jump in the race sooner rather than later to rebut Trump. WATCH | Trump attacks Biden after he announces 2024 re-election bid × His entry to the US presidential race will not only make him Trump’s biggest rival for the Republican nomination, but will also shake things up in a competition which has largely been one-sided so far. However, if Reuters/Ipsos polls are to be believed, former president Donald Trump maintains commanding lead in the 2024 Republican outreach and an undeniable hold in the Republican Party. DeSantis’ growing profile Several Republican lawmakers were able to deliver a horde of victories to DeSantis in the recent few months by expanding the state’s school voucher programme, prohibiting the use of public money in sustainable investing efforts, scrapping diversity programmes at public universities, allowing for the permit-less carry of concealed weapons and the most significant — ban on all abortions in the state. DeSantis’ new political action committee, Never Back Down, aimed at raising unlimited funds, has been hiring staff in early voting states and running TV ads championing DeSantis and knocking Trump. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to formally enter US presidential election race next week

US First Lady Jill Biden gave one of the clearest indications regarding US President Joe Biden's run in 2024 elections. In an exclusive interview on Friday with the Associated Press, she said, "He says he's not done yet."

Although Biden has long said that he intends to seek re-election, he is yet to&nbsp;make&nbsp;an&nbsp; official announcement even as he faces questions about whether he's too old to continue serving as the president. However, dismissing health speculations to an extent, the US president was recently declared "medically fit" to run for re-election in 2024 when he will turn 82.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-biden-hosts-democrats-republican-governors-at-white-house-lauds-bipartisan-progress-561210">Also read |&nbsp;US President Biden hosts Democrats, Republican governors at White House, lauds ‘bipartisan progress’</a>

The First Lady, who is currently in Nairobi as a part of her five-day visit to Africa, said, "How many times does he have to say it for you to believe it?"

She added, “He says he’s not done. He’s not finished what he’s started. And that’s what’s important."

According to Biden's aides, the official statement is expected to come in April this year, after the first fund-raising quarter ends. This is the same period when former US president Barack Obama had announced his confirmation for a re-election campaign.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/internet-reacts-as-jill-biden-lands-a-peck-on-harris-husband-douglas-emhoff-at-state-of-the-union-address-560311">Also read |Internet reacts as Jill Biden, lands a peck on Harris' husband, Douglas Emhoff at State of the Union address</a>

When asked about Biden's plan for the future, Jill said,&nbsp;"I’m his wife. Of course, he’ll listen to me, because we’re a married couple." However, she later added that he makes up his own mind.&nbsp;

Jill brushed off the question of whether she has the deciding vote on whether the president runs for an election campaign or not.

The wide-ranging interview took place on the first anniversary of the ongoing war in Ukraine. She spoke about her visit to Kyiv and her skin cancer diagnosis.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US First Lady Jill Biden gave one of the clearest indications regarding US President Joe Biden's run in 2024 elections. In an exclusive interview on Friday with the Associated Press, she said, "He says he's not done yet.

US First Lady Jill Biden gave one of the clearest indications regarding US President Joe Biden's run in 2024 elections. In an exclusive interview on Friday with the Associated Press, she said, "He says he's not done yet." Although Biden has long said that he intends to seek re-election, he is yet to make an official announcement even as he faces questions about whether he's too old to continue serving as the president. However, dismissing health speculations to an extent, the US president was recently declared "medically fit" to run for re-election in 2024 when he will turn 82. Also read | US President Biden hosts Democrats, Republican governors at White House, lauds ‘bipartisan progress’ The First Lady, who is currently in Nairobi as a part of her five-day visit to Africa, said, "How many times does he have to say it for you to believe it?" She added, “He says he’s not done. He’s not finished what he’s started. And that’s what’s important." According to Biden's aides, the official statement is expected to come in April this year, after the first fund-raising quarter ends. This is the same period when former US president Barack Obama had announced his confirmation for a re-election campaign. Also read |Internet reacts as Jill Biden, lands a peck on Harris' husband, Douglas Emhoff at State of the Union address When asked about Biden's plan for the future, Jill said, "I’m his wife. Of course, he’ll listen to me, because we’re a married couple." However, she later added that he makes up his own mind. Jill brushed off the question of whether she has the deciding vote on whether the president runs for an election campaign or not. The wide-ranging interview took place on the first anniversary of the ongoing war in Ukraine. She spoke about her visit to Kyiv and her skin cancer diagnosis. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'How many times does he have to say it?': US First Lady Jill Biden confirms Prez Biden is ready for 2024 run

The day after America’s most prominent Indian-American politician, Nikki Haley, announced her run for the US&nbsp;presidency at a rally packed with enthusiastic supporters, the New York Times came out with a headline free of doubt about her chances.

“Nikki Haley Will Not Be the Next President’: Our Columnists Weigh In.”

That brought back memories of the summer of 2015, when Donald Trump opened his campaign for the presidency and virtually the entire American commentariat, as political pundits, pollsters and prognosticators are known, came to a quick and categorical conclusion: There is no way Trump can win.

One of the prognosticators, Dana Milbank of the Washington Post, wrote that “I’m so certain Trump won’t win the (Republican) nomination that I’ll eat my words if he does. Literally: the day Trump clinches the nomination I will eat the page on this is written.” To his credit, he did.

Haley’s entry into the race, the first Republican to challenge Trump, who announced his campaign three months ago, has triggered a flood of analyses of the former South Carolina governor’s chances of winning the Republican Party primary elections. They feature a series of televised debates between next February and June and decide who will be the party’s nominee.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nikki-haley-takes-a-jibe-at-trump-in-her-first-presidential-campaign-speech-562672">Nikki Haley takes a jibe at Trump in her first presidential campaign speech</a>

Under its categorical “will not be” headline, the New York Times ran reflections by nine of its best-known pundits, most of whom thought Haley’s candidacy should not be taken seriously. Except for Bret Stephens, a conservative, who addressed the question of likeability, which played a major role in Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 elections.

Talking of the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, who is currently rated as popular as Trump in internal polls, Stephens said “It’s said of Ron DeSantis that the closer you get to him, the less you like him. Haley is the opposite.”

She is often described as charismatic, outgoing, and of a sunny disposition that makes her an excellent retail politician. “She can light up a room of Republicans,” said an assessment of her prospects by the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board, which also termed her “relentlessly upbeat.”

That showed, according to attendants, when she recently addressed a meeting of auto dealers, the kind of audience a Republican politician needs to court, and received thunderous standing ovations.&nbsp;

Charisma and likeability are not qualities often mentioned for a slew of Republicans – so far at least a dozen – who are considering entering the race but have yet to declare. They include Trump’s former Vice President, Mike Pence, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

&nbsp;How much does personality and charisma matter in winning party nominations and eventually the most powerful job in the land? &nbsp;In my view, a lot. The televised debates watched by millions of voters blend political arguments, oratorical skills and body postures not unlike the reality shows so beloved by American audiences.

WATCH | Indian-American Nikki Haley kicks-off U.S. Presidential Campaign for 2024

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Trump excelled in the debates, using the skills he acquired when he hosted and co-produced a popular television reality show, The Apprentice, from 2004 to 2015. It turned him into a household name. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Likeability and sunny disposition apart, Haley brings a wide range of strengths and accomplishments to the table, plus a life story that ticks off all the right boxes for many Americans. She was born in a small town in South Carolina to Indian parents from Punjab and joined her family’s clothing business after earning an accounting degree.

Her political career ranged from three terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives to election in 2014 as the first female governor of South Carolina and the youngest governor in the country to joining the Trump cabinet in 2017 as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.&nbsp;

She won praise from UN&nbsp;colleagues for being a quick learner and her surprise resignation at the end of 2018 sparked a frenzy of speculation partly because she left on amicable terms unlike other senior members of the Trump administration who became targets of nasty tweets from the president.

Haley joined the board of Boeing but resigned after less than a year because she opposed the company’s request for a $60 billion bailout to help the aircraft manufacturer cope with the coronavirus crisis. She described her decision as “a matter of philosophical principle.”

In her brief announcement speech, Haley pointed out that the Republican Party had lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections, having failed to win the confidence of the majority of Americans. “Well, that ends today. If you are tired of losing, then put your trust in a new generation.”

To stress what she sees as the need for generational change in US&nbsp;politics, not only the Republican Party, the 51-year-old newly baked candidate called for term limits as well as regular “mental competency tests” for politicians over the age of 75. This was aimed at both Trump, who is 76, and President Joe Biden, who is 80.

Not to mention 30 members of the House of Representatives and 16 Senators. The average age of Americans is 38.5 years and some polls suggest that there is broad support for younger leadership.&nbsp;

“America is not past our prime,” said Haley, "it’s just that our politicians are past theirs.” However, the flaw in stressing her relative youth and vitality is that Ron DeSantis, who is expected to enter the race closer to the beginning of the primaries, is even younger: 44.&nbsp;

In challenging her former boss, Haley broke a promise not to run if Trump did. She has yet to explain what changed her mind but at least one of her former colleagues has spelt out in public what many suspect. “I think Nikki’s really running for vice president,” Trump’s former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, said in a television interview.

So is her idea to do so well in the primaries that she will be the logical choice of running mate for whoever is chosen as the nominee if it’s not her?&nbsp;

It’s almost a year to the start of the primaries, an eternity in America’s volatile politics, and those in the commentariat with firm predictions would do well remembering what happened in 2015.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)&nbsp;

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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The day after America’s most prominent Indian-American politician, Nikki Haley, announced her run for the US presidency at a rally packed with enthusiastic supporters, the New York Times came out with a headline free of doubt about her chances.

The day after America’s most prominent Indian-American politician, Nikki Haley, announced her run for the US presidency at a rally packed with enthusiastic supporters, the New York Times came out with a headline free of doubt about her chances. “Nikki Haley Will Not Be the Next President’: Our Columnists Weigh In.” That brought back memories of the summer of 2015, when Donald Trump opened his campaign for the presidency and virtually the entire American commentariat, as political pundits, pollsters and prognosticators are known, came to a quick and categorical conclusion: There is no way Trump can win. One of the prognosticators, Dana Milbank of the Washington Post, wrote that “I’m so certain Trump won’t win the (Republican) nomination that I’ll eat my words if he does. Literally: the day Trump clinches the nomination I will eat the page on this is written.” To his credit, he did. Haley’s entry into the race, the first Republican to challenge Trump, who announced his campaign three months ago, has triggered a flood of analyses of the former South Carolina governor’s chances of winning the Republican Party primary elections. They feature a series of televised debates between next February and June and decide who will be the party’s nominee. ALSO READ | Nikki Haley takes a jibe at Trump in her first presidential campaign speech Under its categorical “will not be” headline, the New York Times ran reflections by nine of its best-known pundits, most of whom thought Haley’s candidacy should not be taken seriously. Except for Bret Stephens, a conservative, who addressed the question of likeability, which played a major role in Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 elections. Talking of the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, who is currently rated as popular as Trump in internal polls, Stephens said “It’s said of Ron DeSantis that the closer you get to him, the less you like him. Haley is the opposite.” She is often described as charismatic, outgoing, and of a sunny disposition that makes her an excellent retail politician. “She can light up a room of Republicans,” said an assessment of her prospects by the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board, which also termed her “relentlessly upbeat.” That showed, according to attendants, when she recently addressed a meeting of auto dealers, the kind of audience a Republican politician needs to court, and received thunderous standing ovations. Charisma and likeability are not qualities often mentioned for a slew of Republicans – so far at least a dozen – who are considering entering the race but have yet to declare. They include Trump’s former Vice President, Mike Pence, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. How much does personality and charisma matter in winning party nominations and eventually the most powerful job in the land? In my view, a lot. The televised debates watched by millions of voters blend political arguments, oratorical skills and body postures not unlike the reality shows so beloved by American audiences. WATCH | Indian-American Nikki Haley kicks-off U.S. Presidential Campaign for 2024 Trump excelled in the debates, using the skills he acquired when he hosted and co-produced a popular television reality show, The Apprentice, from 2004 to 2015. It turned him into a household name. Likeability and sunny disposition apart, Haley brings a wide range of strengths and accomplishments to the table, plus a life story that ticks off all the right boxes for many Americans. She was born in a small town in South Carolina to Indian parents from Punjab and joined her family’s clothing business after earning an accounting degree. Her political career ranged from three terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives to election in 2014 as the first female governor of South Carolina and the youngest governor in the country to joining the Trump cabinet in 2017 as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She won praise from UN colleagues for being a quick learner and her surprise resignation at the end of 2018 sparked a frenzy of speculation partly because she left on amicable terms unlike other senior members of the Trump administration who became targets of nasty tweets from the president. Haley joined the board of Boeing but resigned after less than a year because she opposed the company’s request for a $60 billion bailout to help the aircraft manufacturer cope with the coronavirus crisis. She described her decision as “a matter of philosophical principle.” In her brief announcement speech, Haley pointed out that the Republican Party had lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections, having failed to win the confidence of the majority of Americans. “Well, that ends today. If you are tired of losing, then put your trust in a new generation.” To stress what she sees as the need for generational change in US politics, not only the Republican Party, the 51-year-old newly baked candidate called for term limits as well as regular “mental competency tests” for politicians over the age of 75. This was aimed at both Trump, who is 76, and President Joe Biden, who is 80. Not to mention 30 members of the House of Representatives and 16 Senators. The average age of Americans is 38.5 years and some polls suggest that there is broad support for younger leadership. “America is not past our prime,” said Haley, "it’s just that our politicians are past theirs.” However, the flaw in stressing her relative youth and vitality is that Ron DeSantis, who is expected to enter the race closer to the beginning of the primaries, is even younger: 44. In challenging her former boss, Haley broke a promise not to run if Trump did. She has yet to explain what changed her mind but at least one of her former colleagues has spelt out in public what many suspect. “I think Nikki’s really running for vice president,” Trump’s former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, said in a television interview. So is her idea to do so well in the primaries that she will be the logical choice of running mate for whoever is chosen as the nominee if it’s not her? It’s almost a year to the start of the primaries, an eternity in America’s volatile politics, and those in the commentariat with firm predictions would do well remembering what happened in 2015. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Nikki Haley’s presidential run: Take predictions with a pinch of salt

With South Carolina former Governor Nikki Haley's announcement that she is in the run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, the discussion around who will win in the race has deepened further. She is the second person to have announced her candidature after former President Donald Trump confirmed his bid for the nomination. Her announcement has also triggered uncertainty in the Republican Party, as reports suggest that top leaders are mulling over how they can challenge the politically wounded but still resilient Trump.

Former Governor Larry Hogan, who had earlier stated that he was “actively and seriously considering” running, had talked about the “non-Trump lane”. “There’s a non-Trump lane right now that’s as wide as the Trump lane, and there’s no one in that lane,” Hogan had stated in an interview. With speculations around Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also joining the run for nomination, the question arises will Nikki Haley clinch victory or will she become a catalyst for Trump's win?

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-nikki-haley-the-indian-american-top-gun-with-strong-political-views-teased-to-challenge-biden-in-2024-557874">Who is Nikki Haley? The Indian-American top gun with strong political views who may challenge Biden in 2024</a>

The announcement

On February 14, Nikki Haley stated that she is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination against her former boss Donald Trump in&nbsp;the Republican nomination race.

“It’s time for a new generation of leadership,” said Haley in a video shared by her team. Born to Indian migrants in Bamberg, South Carolina, Haley was earlier named Nimrata Nikki Randhawa. Her parents were from Punjab, India, and were teachers by profession. She grew up as a Sikh but converted to Christianity after she married Michael Haley in 1996.

Speaking about her background, Haley said, “I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants. They came to America and settled in a small Southern town. My father wore a turban. My mother wore a sari. I was a brown girl in a black and white world. We faced discrimination and hardships, but my parents never gave in to grievance and hate.”

Shift in politics

A clear theme of Haley's presidential election campaign is unity, as in her announcement video the leader was seen emphasising on bringing people together.&nbsp;Haley recalled how she led South Carolina through the tragedy as a governor when nine Black parishioners were killed by a white supremacist at the Mother Emmanuel AME Church in 2015.

"We turned away from fear towards God and the values that still make our country the freest and greatest in the world," she stated. It is felt Haley feels that the issue of race and call for unity may work in her favour, but experts believe it&nbsp;otherwise.

AAPI Victory Alliance's Varun Nikore believes that Haley failed to represent the community. Nikore added, “There’s a multitude of issues where she specifically and the Republican Party are diametrically opposed to where AAPIs are.”&nbsp;The data also fails to show a bright future for Haley.

As per the Asian American voter survey carried out in 2022, only 15 per cent of Indian American voters support Republicans. Meanwhile, 56 per cent are in favour of Democrats, and 19 per cent go for independent. With such an evident ratio of Indian Americans supporting Democrats, it is difficult to understand which is Haley's target community.&nbsp;

WATCH | Indian-American Nikki Haley kicks-off U.S. Presidential Campaign for 2024

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The falling number in polls

If the polls are to be considered, there is a tough road ahead for Haley. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, just 4 per cent of registered Republicans were in support of Haley taking over as president.

Meanwhile, Trump gained votes of 43 per cent of the registered Republicans, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received 31 per cent. The polls were conducted from February 6 to 13. Other polls conducted recently also found Trump leading the race. As per The Bulwark survey, 28 per cent of Republican party votes were ready to support Trump.

Few surveys also said that Haley would play spoiler. According to the Yahoo News/YouGov poll, Florida governor DeSantis was leading Trump by 45 per cent to 41 per cent. “In a hypothetical three-way match-up, Haley effectively plays the spoiler, attracting 11 per cent of Republicans and Republican-leaners while DeSantis’s support falls by roughly the same amount (to 35 per cent), leaving Trump with more votes than either of them&nbsp;at 38%,” Yahoo News stated.

Haley's wavering stance

For many, Haley, as a leader, is someone who has been wavering in her stand on issues. She is known to have shared a hot-and-cold relationship with her boss.

Once a high critic of Trump, she later became his ambassador to the UN only to leave the Trump administration in 2018 and again heavily criticise the leader. However, in 2022, Haley seemed to have amended her relationship with Trump. She had also claimed that she won't run for the presidential election if Trump announces his candidacy, a decision she again wavered on.

Hampton Falls' Nancy Parker also said that it will take some convincing.&nbsp;"I think Nikki Haley has a lot of potential but I just want to see for myself what she has to say. She has a reputation of being a bit of a flip-flopper. She's changed her mind on many important items over the last two years, but I'm still willing to come and listen to her,” Parker added.

With Haley heading to Iowa next week for a few campaign stops, it will be interesting to see the kind of response she receives from the people.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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With South Carolina former Governor Nikki Haley's announcement that she is in the run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, the discussion around who will win in the race has deepened further.

With South Carolina former Governor Nikki Haley's announcement that she is in the run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, the discussion around who will win in the race has deepened further. She is the second person to have announced her candidature after former President Donald Trump confirmed his bid for the nomination. Her announcement has also triggered uncertainty in the Republican Party, as reports suggest that top leaders are mulling over how they can challenge the politically wounded but still resilient Trump. Former Governor Larry Hogan, who had earlier stated that he was “actively and seriously considering” running, had talked about the “non-Trump lane”. “There’s a non-Trump lane right now that’s as wide as the Trump lane, and there’s no one in that lane,” Hogan had stated in an interview. With speculations around Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also joining the run for nomination, the question arises will Nikki Haley clinch victory or will she become a catalyst for Trump's win? ALSO READ | Who is Nikki Haley? The Indian-American top gun with strong political views who may challenge Biden in 2024 The announcement On February 14, Nikki Haley stated that she is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination against her former boss Donald Trump in the Republican nomination race. “It’s time for a new generation of leadership,” said Haley in a video shared by her team. Born to Indian migrants in Bamberg, South Carolina, Haley was earlier named Nimrata Nikki Randhawa. Her parents were from Punjab, India, and were teachers by profession. She grew up as a Sikh but converted to Christianity after she married Michael Haley in 1996. Speaking about her background, Haley said, “I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants. They came to America and settled in a small Southern town. My father wore a turban. My mother wore a sari. I was a brown girl in a black and white world. We faced discrimination and hardships, but my parents never gave in to grievance and hate.” Shift in politics A clear theme of Haley's presidential election campaign is unity, as in her announcement video the leader was seen emphasising on bringing people together. Haley recalled how she led South Carolina through the tragedy as a governor when nine Black parishioners were killed by a white supremacist at the Mother Emmanuel AME Church in 2015. "We turned away from fear towards God and the values that still make our country the freest and greatest in the world," she stated. It is felt Haley feels that the issue of race and call for unity may work in her favour, but experts believe it otherwise. AAPI Victory Alliance's Varun Nikore believes that Haley failed to represent the community. Nikore added, “There’s a multitude of issues where she specifically and the Republican Party are diametrically opposed to where AAPIs are.” The data also fails to show a bright future for Haley. As per the Asian American voter survey carried out in 2022, only 15 per cent of Indian American voters support Republicans. Meanwhile, 56 per cent are in favour of Democrats, and 19 per cent go for independent. With such an evident ratio of Indian Americans supporting Democrats, it is difficult to understand which is Haley's target community. WATCH | Indian-American Nikki Haley kicks-off U.S. Presidential Campaign for 2024 The falling number in polls If the polls are to be considered, there is a tough road ahead for Haley. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, just 4 per cent of registered Republicans were in support of Haley taking over as president. Meanwhile, Trump gained votes of 43 per cent of the registered Republicans, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received 31 per cent. The polls were conducted from February 6 to 13. Other polls conducted recently also found Trump leading the race. As per The Bulwark survey, 28 per cent of Republican party votes were ready to support Trump. Few surveys also said that Haley would play spoiler. According to the Yahoo News/YouGov poll, Florida governor DeSantis was leading Trump by 45 per cent to 41 per cent. “In a hypothetical three-way match-up, Haley effectively plays the spoiler, attracting 11 per cent of Republicans and Republican-leaners while DeSantis’s support falls by roughly the same amount (to 35 per cent), leaving Trump with more votes than either of them at 38%,” Yahoo News stated. Haley's wavering stance For many, Haley, as a leader, is someone who has been wavering in her stand on issues. She is known to have shared a hot-and-cold relationship with her boss. Once a high critic of Trump, she later became his ambassador to the UN only to leave the Trump administration in 2018 and again heavily criticise the leader. However, in 2022, Haley seemed to have amended her relationship with Trump. She had also claimed that she won't run for the presidential election if Trump announces his candidacy, a decision she again wavered on. Hampton Falls' Nancy Parker also said that it will take some convincing. "I think Nikki Haley has a lot of potential but I just want to see for myself what she has to say. She has a reputation of being a bit of a flip-flopper. She's changed her mind on many important items over the last two years, but I'm still willing to come and listen to her,” Parker added. With Haley heading to Iowa next week for a few campaign stops, it will be interesting to see the kind of response she receives from the people. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained: Will Nikki Haley win? The ground realities for the Indian-origin candidate as of now

On Tuesday, United States Senate majority leader, Charles Schumer (Democrat- New York) and Minority leader Mitch McConnell (Republican- Kentucky) endorsed the Electoral Count Reform Act which aims to protect future elections from subversion by making changes to the 19th-century law. These reforms were also made in response to the January 6 insurrection.&nbsp;

This legislation will reform the 1887 Electoral Count Act which in addition to the constitution also governs how the states and Congress certify electors and announce the presidential election winner. McConnell's endorsement will give the bipartisan effort a major boost while also putting him at odds with former US president Donald Trump.&nbsp;

McConnell took to the Senate floor and announced, “I strongly support the modest changes that our colleagues in the working group have fleshed out after months of detailed discussions. I'll proudly support the legislation, provided that nothing more than technical changes are made to its current form.”&nbsp;

He noted how the “Congress’s process for counting the presidential electors’ votes was written 135 years ago. The chaos that came to a head on January 6th of last year certainly underscored the need for an update.” 
 
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/are-new-voting-bill-talks-for-real-or-for-show-448404">Are new voting bill talks for real or for show?</a>

“So did Januaries 2001, 2005 and 2017. In each of which, Democrats tried to challenge the lawful election of a Republican president,” the Senate minority leader said. This was in reference to how the Democrats had objected the last three times a Republican candidate won the presidential election. While the GOP had also objected when Dem candidate Joe Biden became president. This legislation would make it difficult to sustain such objections&nbsp;

Notably, at least 147 Republicans in both the House and Senate had objected to the results in key states that Biden had won. On the other hand, reportedly a few Democrats had objected to George W Bush’s victory in 2000 and 2004 and Trump’s victory in 2016.&nbsp;

The endorsement gives a major boost to the legislation led by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joe Manchin (D- West Virginia). This comes amid the bipartisan sponsors trying to push the bill before the end of the year and the next election cycle.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, last week, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy with most Republicans in the house opposed their chamber’s more expansive bill with only a handful of GOP members supporting it. However, the bill was passed by 229-203 votes.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/former-us-president-donald-trump-vow-to-pardon-january-6-rioters-teases-3rd-run-for-the-white-house-448928">Former US President Donald Trump vow to pardon January 6 rioters, teases 3rd run for the White house</a>

Notably, McConnell has long been in favour of tightening election laws. The resulting bill, the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, was approved in the Rules Committee by 14-1 with the lone opposition of Sen Ted Cruz (R- Texas). The committee had adopted some revisions to the existing bill and sent it to the Senate floor for a vote.&nbsp;

The new reforms would limit the vice president’s role to “solely ministerial”, while also raising the threshold for objecting to a state’s Electoral College results from one member of each chamber to at least one-fifth of the chamber. While the House would also require at least one-third of the members to back up the objection.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the Senate Rules Committee also adopted some new provisions closely related to those mentioned in the bill passed by the House. This included a provision that allows officials to delay elections in case of an “act of god” where officials can declare a failed election due to events like natural disasters. This was done to prevent any future claims of voter fraud which could allow the state to refuse to certify valid votes.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/memos-show-roots-of-trumps-focus-on-jan-6-and-alternate-electors-450155">Memos show roots of Trump’s focus on Jan. 6 and alternate electors</a>

These reforms have been placed in the light of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol where former US President Donald Trump and his supporters tried to stop then Vice President Mike Pence from certifying the election results. Therefore, both the bills in the House and Senate have formally established that a VP’s role is purely ceremonial.&nbsp;

The Senate bill takes this one step further stating that it denies the VP to “solely determine, accept, reject, or otherwise adjudicate or resolve disputes over the proper list of electors, the validity of electors, or the votes of electors.” This comes after Trump publicly pressured states, members of Congress, including Pence to undo Biden’s win and while he did not succeed it highlighted the need for stronger laws for future elections.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

On Tuesday, United States Senate majority leader, Charles Schumer (Democrat- New York) and Minority leader Mitch McConnell (Republican- Kentucky) endorsed the Electoral Count Reform Act which aims to protect future elections from subversion by making changes to the 19th-century law.

On Tuesday, United States Senate majority leader, Charles Schumer (Democrat- New York) and Minority leader Mitch McConnell (Republican- Kentucky) endorsed the Electoral Count Reform Act which aims to protect future elections from subversion by making changes to the 19th-century law. These reforms were also made in response to the January 6 insurrection. This legislation will reform the 1887 Electoral Count Act which in addition to the constitution also governs how the states and Congress certify electors and announce the presidential election winner. McConnell's endorsement will give the bipartisan effort a major boost while also putting him at odds with former US president Donald Trump. McConnell took to the Senate floor and announced, “I strongly support the modest changes that our colleagues in the working group have fleshed out after months of detailed discussions. I'll proudly support the legislation, provided that nothing more than technical changes are made to its current form.” He noted how the “Congress’s process for counting the presidential electors’ votes was written 135 years ago. The chaos that came to a head on January 6th of last year certainly underscored the need for an update.” ALSO READ: Are new voting bill talks for real or for show? “So did Januaries 2001, 2005 and 2017. In each of which, Democrats tried to challenge the lawful election of a Republican president,” the Senate minority leader said. This was in reference to how the Democrats had objected the last three times a Republican candidate won the presidential election. While the GOP had also objected when Dem candidate Joe Biden became president. This legislation would make it difficult to sustain such objections Notably, at least 147 Republicans in both the House and Senate had objected to the results in key states that Biden had won. On the other hand, reportedly a few Democrats had objected to George W Bush’s victory in 2000 and 2004 and Trump’s victory in 2016. The endorsement gives a major boost to the legislation led by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joe Manchin (D- West Virginia). This comes amid the bipartisan sponsors trying to push the bill before the end of the year and the next election cycle. Meanwhile, last week, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy with most Republicans in the house opposed their chamber’s more expansive bill with only a handful of GOP members supporting it. However, the bill was passed by 229-203 votes. ALSO WATCH: Former US President Donald Trump vow to pardon January 6 rioters, teases 3rd run for the White house Notably, McConnell has long been in favour of tightening election laws. The resulting bill, the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, was approved in the Rules Committee by 14-1 with the lone opposition of Sen Ted Cruz (R- Texas). The committee had adopted some revisions to the existing bill and sent it to the Senate floor for a vote. The new reforms would limit the vice president’s role to “solely ministerial”, while also raising the threshold for objecting to a state’s Electoral College results from one member of each chamber to at least one-fifth of the chamber. While the House would also require at least one-third of the members to back up the objection. On Tuesday, the Senate Rules Committee also adopted some new provisions closely related to those mentioned in the bill passed by the House. This included a provision that allows officials to delay elections in case of an “act of god” where officials can declare a failed election due to events like natural disasters. This was done to prevent any future claims of voter fraud which could allow the state to refuse to certify valid votes. ALSO READ: Memos show roots of Trump’s focus on Jan. 6 and alternate electors These reforms have been placed in the light of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol where former US President Donald Trump and his supporters tried to stop then Vice President Mike Pence from certifying the election results. Therefore, both the bills in the House and Senate have formally established that a VP’s role is purely ceremonial. The Senate bill takes this one step further stating that it denies the VP to “solely determine, accept, reject, or otherwise adjudicate or resolve disputes over the proper list of electors, the validity of electors, or the votes of electors.” This comes after Trump publicly pressured states, members of Congress, including Pence to undo Biden’s win and while he did not succeed it highlighted the need for stronger laws for future elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Jan. 6 Capitol riot: Bipartisan bill to prevent subversion of US elections gets support

Republicans believe they have a good shot at taking Congress next year. But there’s a catch.

The GOP’s ambitions of ending unified Democratic control in Washington in 2022 are colliding with a considerable force that has the ability to sway tens of millions of votes: former President Donald Trump’s increasingly vocal demands that members of his party remain in a permanent state of obedience, endorsing his false claims of a stolen election or risking his wrath.

In a series of public appearances and statements over the past week, Trump has signalled not only that he plans to work against Republicans he deems disloyal, but also that his meritless claims that widespread voter fraud cost him the White House in 2020 will be his litmus test, going so far as to threaten that his voters will sit out future elections.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2024-former-us-president-donald-trump-favourite-candidate-biden-lagging-behind-420648" hreflang="en">US election 2024: Former US President Donald Trump favourite candidate, Biden lagging behind</a>

“If we don’t solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020,” Trump said in a statement last week, “Republicans will not be voting in ’22 or ’24. It’s the single most important thing for Republicans to do.”

The former president’s fixation on disproved conspiracy theories is frustrating to many in his party who see it as needlessly divisive at a time when Republicans feel they are poised to take back the House of Representatives and perhaps the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections. They worry he could cost Republicans otherwise winnable seats in Congress and complicate the party’s more immediate goal of winning the governor’s race in Virginia next month.

The concern over Trump’s attempts to make all federal elections a referendum on him points to the larger debate among Republicans over what his role should be, as someone who remains singularly popular with the party’s base but is also a liability with swing voters and a motivator for Democrats to turn out.

Some rising stars in the Republican Party — like Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who ousted Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming from a House leadership post in a bitter intraparty fight over the Jan. 6 riots and Trump’s attempts to downplay them — have been clear: They want Trump to play a role in the 2022 midterms. Stefanik called him “an asset to Republicans on the ballot” at a fundraiser last week.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hows-biden-doing-do-you-miss-me-yet-trump-pokes-fun-at-us-president-420630" hreflang="en">'How's Biden doing? 'Do you miss me yet?': Trump pokes fun at US President</a>

And top party strategists said they expected the former president to remain front and center&nbsp;in the Republicans’ campaign to retake control of the House. “He’s the leader of the party,” said Corry Bliss, a consultant to Republicans on congressional races. “The more energized and engaged he is, the better we’ll do.”

But party officials believe Trump’s threat about his supporters staying home en masse is real. And the potency of his false claims about 2020 caught even some of his staunchest allies in the party off guard.

The stakes are amplified by Trump’s increasingly pointed hints that he plans to be the party’s nominee in 2024.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has supported exhaustive audits of the 2020 results to look for evidence of voting irregularities that repeated reviews have failed to produce. Still, she has told colleagues that she was surprised by a recent survey of Republican voters in her district, according to one person who spoke with her about it.

The internal survey found that 5% of Republican voters said they would sit out the 2022 election if the state of Georgia did not conduct a forensic audit of the 2020 election — a demand that some of Trump’s hard-core supporters have made. Another 4% said they would consider sitting out the election absent an audit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/56-in-us-feel-cheating-affected-2020-presidential-election-outcome-says-poll-420060" hreflang="en">56% in US feel cheating affected 2020 presidential election outcome, says poll</a>

The possibility that nearly 10% of Republicans could sit out any election — even one in a solidly red district like the one held by Taylor Greene — was something Republican strategists said they found alarming.

Since Trump left office, polls have repeatedly shown that large majorities of Republican voters want him to run in 2024. And roughly 40% of Republicans say they consider themselves to be primarily his supporters rather than supporters of the party — about the same share who said so last November, according to the political research firm Echelon Insights.

Many Republicans don’t seem to want to hear anything critical about him. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center, for instance, highlighted the lack of an appetite for much dissent. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans, Pew found, said their party should not be accepting of elected officials who criticize Trump.

Trump’s recent interference in the Virginia contest — where polls show the Republican candidate, Glenn Youngkin, narrowly trailing his Democratic rival, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe — worried advisers to Youngkin’s campaign. They watched as their carefully scripted plan to keep the race focused on their candidate and on claims that Democrats have veered too far left became engulfed by news coverage of the former president praising Youngkin at a political rally last week.

Some Republicans said they feared they were watching a preview of the awkward and unpleasant dilemma their candidates would face for the foreseeable future, as Trump remains the most popular figure in their party, determining what candidates say and how voters think.

“Here is where Trump is so destructive,” said Barbara Comstock, a former Republican member of Congress who lost her seat in suburban Virginia in 2018. That year, voters in swing districts across the country turned against centrist incumbents like her in a repudiation of Trump.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-tiger-and-cheetah-furs-a-mess-of-trump-gift-exchanges-419921" hreflang="en">White tiger and cheetah furs: A mess of Trump gift exchanges</a>

“He doesn’t want other people to win without groveling to him. That’s the threat,” Comstock added. “It’s not about winning. It’s all about him. And that’s what’s so stupid about Republicans even trying to deal with him, because you never know when he’ll drive the car off the cliff.”

One of the most concerned is Sen. Mitch McConnell, the minority leader.

McConnell has told colleagues that he is concerned Trump’s campaign to relitigate the 2020 election could depress confidence among Republican voters and hurt the party’s chances at winning back the majority it lost this year after Democrats captured Georgia’s two Senate seats. Republican leaders warned Trump at the time that by blaming fraud for his loss, he would convince many of his supporters in Georgia that their votes in the Senate runoff election on Jan. 5 wouldn’t count, deterring them from participating.

Republican critics of Trump said that history was repeating itself. “Republicans should have learned this lesson after the Georgia debacle,” said Scott Reed, a veteran party strategist who has worked to elect Republicans to the Senate for three decades.

Reed said that the former president’s comments about Republicans not voting “should warrant a sanction from the Republican National Committee.” He warned, “It will impact the 2022 midterms severely.”

The tension between McConnell and Trump has escalated lately, as the former president has ratcheted up his attacks on the minority leader, accusing McConnell of “folding” to Democrats in a recent agreement to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. He called for the leader’s ouster in a recent interview with Fox News, saying, “Mitch is not the guy.”

Trump’s allies did not deny that he was content to see Republicans pay the ultimate political price for what he and a significant portion of his voters saw as disloyalty.

“President Trump is saying: ‘Hey, I’m putting you guys on notice. My people aren’t coming out,’” said Steve Bannon, the former chief White House strategist, who has been using his podcast to further amplify Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. “There could not be a bigger shot across the establishment bow.”

But the harder Trump’s allies push their election fraud claims, the harder it becomes to satisfy their most hard-core followers. Even Taylor Greene, who is as far-right and pro-Trump as they come in the Republican Party, cannot seem to always please the fringe. Lately, she has been feuding online with L. Lin Wood, an Atlanta attorney who helped Trump sow doubts over his loss in Georgia, over which of them truly represents the Trump movement. Wood has accused her of not doing enough to uncover instances of voter fraud. She has said that Wood is “not one of us.”

Such radicalization comes at a cost, said David Jolly, a former Republican congressman from Florida who is critical of the former president. At a time when the larger political trends are pointing toward trouble for the Democratic Party in 2022, he said, Trump’s actions risk interfering with what should be a good environment for Republicans.

“This should be a 100%, straight-up referendum on Biden,” Jolly said. “Instead, you have Trump the narcissist trying to inject himself into what should be a glide path for Republicans to an incredibly successful election, by making it all about him.”

Republicans believe they have a good shot at taking Congress next year. But there’s a catch. The GOP’s ambitions of ending unified Democratic control in Washington in 2022 are colliding with a considerable force that has the ability to sway tens of millions of votes: former President Donald Trump’s increasingly vocal demands that members of his party remain in a permanent state of obedience, endorsing his false claims of a stolen election or risking his wrath.

Republicans believe they have a good shot at taking Congress next year. But there’s a catch. The GOP’s ambitions of ending unified Democratic control in Washington in 2022 are colliding with a considerable force that has the ability to sway tens of millions of votes: former President Donald Trump’s increasingly vocal demands that members of his party remain in a permanent state of obedience, endorsing his false claims of a stolen election or risking his wrath. In a series of public appearances and statements over the past week, Trump has signalled not only that he plans to work against Republicans he deems disloyal, but also that his meritless claims that widespread voter fraud cost him the White House in 2020 will be his litmus test, going so far as to threaten that his voters will sit out future elections. Also read | US election 2024: Former US President Donald Trump favourite candidate, Biden lagging behind “If we don’t solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020,” Trump said in a statement last week, “Republicans will not be voting in ’22 or ’24. It’s the single most important thing for Republicans to do.” The former president’s fixation on disproved conspiracy theories is frustrating to many in his party who see it as needlessly divisive at a time when Republicans feel they are poised to take back the House of Representatives and perhaps the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections. They worry he could cost Republicans otherwise winnable seats in Congress and complicate the party’s more immediate goal of winning the governor’s race in Virginia next month. The concern over Trump’s attempts to make all federal elections a referendum on him points to the larger debate among Republicans over what his role should be, as someone who remains singularly popular with the party’s base but is also a liability with swing voters and a motivator for Democrats to turn out. Some rising stars in the Republican Party — like Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who ousted Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming from a House leadership post in a bitter intraparty fight over the Jan. 6 riots and Trump’s attempts to downplay them — have been clear: They want Trump to play a role in the 2022 midterms. Stefanik called him “an asset to Republicans on the ballot” at a fundraiser last week. Also read | 'How's Biden doing? 'Do you miss me yet?': Trump pokes fun at US President And top party strategists said they expected the former president to remain front and center in the Republicans’ campaign to retake control of the House. “He’s the leader of the party,” said Corry Bliss, a consultant to Republicans on congressional races. “The more energized and engaged he is, the better we’ll do.” But party officials believe Trump’s threat about his supporters staying home en masse is real. And the potency of his false claims about 2020 caught even some of his staunchest allies in the party off guard. The stakes are amplified by Trump’s increasingly pointed hints that he plans to be the party’s nominee in 2024. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has supported exhaustive audits of the 2020 results to look for evidence of voting irregularities that repeated reviews have failed to produce. Still, she has told colleagues that she was surprised by a recent survey of Republican voters in her district, according to one person who spoke with her about it. The internal survey found that 5% of Republican voters said they would sit out the 2022 election if the state of Georgia did not conduct a forensic audit of the 2020 election — a demand that some of Trump’s hard-core supporters have made. Another 4% said they would consider sitting out the election absent an audit. Also read | 56% in US feel cheating affected 2020 presidential election outcome, says poll The possibility that nearly 10% of Republicans could sit out any election — even one in a solidly red district like the one held by Taylor Greene — was something Republican strategists said they found alarming. Since Trump left office, polls have repeatedly shown that large majorities of Republican voters want him to run in 2024. And roughly 40% of Republicans say they consider themselves to be primarily his supporters rather than supporters of the party — about the same share who said so last November, according to the political research firm Echelon Insights. Many Republicans don’t seem to want to hear anything critical about him. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center, for instance, highlighted the lack of an appetite for much dissent. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans, Pew found, said their party should not be accepting of elected officials who criticize Trump. Trump’s recent interference in the Virginia contest — where polls show the Republican candidate, Glenn Youngkin, narrowly trailing his Democratic rival, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe — worried advisers to Youngkin’s campaign. They watched as their carefully scripted plan to keep the race focused on their candidate and on claims that Democrats have veered too far left became engulfed by news coverage of the former president praising Youngkin at a political rally last week. Some Republicans said they feared they were watching a preview of the awkward and unpleasant dilemma their candidates would face for the foreseeable future, as Trump remains the most popular figure in their party, determining what candidates say and how voters think. “Here is where Trump is so destructive,” said Barbara Comstock, a former Republican member of Congress who lost her seat in suburban Virginia in 2018. That year, voters in swing districts across the country turned against centrist incumbents like her in a repudiation of Trump. Also read | White tiger and cheetah furs: A mess of Trump gift exchanges “He doesn’t want other people to win without groveling to him. That’s the threat,” Comstock added. “It’s not about winning. It’s all about him. And that’s what’s so stupid about Republicans even trying to deal with him, because you never know when he’ll drive the car off the cliff.” One of the most concerned is Sen. Mitch McConnell, the minority leader. McConnell has told colleagues that he is concerned Trump’s campaign to relitigate the 2020 election could depress confidence among Republican voters and hurt the party’s chances at winning back the majority it lost this year after Democrats captured Georgia’s two Senate seats. Republican leaders warned Trump at the time that by blaming fraud for his loss, he would convince many of his supporters in Georgia that their votes in the Senate runoff election on Jan. 5 wouldn’t count, deterring them from participating. Republican critics of Trump said that history was repeating itself. “Republicans should have learned this lesson after the Georgia debacle,” said Scott Reed, a veteran party strategist who has worked to elect Republicans to the Senate for three decades. Reed said that the former president’s comments about Republicans not voting “should warrant a sanction from the Republican National Committee.” He warned, “It will impact the 2022 midterms severely.” The tension between McConnell and Trump has escalated lately, as the former president has ratcheted up his attacks on the minority leader, accusing McConnell of “folding” to Democrats in a recent agreement to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. He called for the leader’s ouster in a recent interview with Fox News, saying, “Mitch is not the guy.” Trump’s allies did not deny that he was content to see Republicans pay the ultimate political price for what he and a significant portion of his voters saw as disloyalty. “President Trump is saying: ‘Hey, I’m putting you guys on notice. My people aren’t coming out,’” said Steve Bannon, the former chief White House strategist, who has been using his podcast to further amplify Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. “There could not be a bigger shot across the establishment bow.” But the harder Trump’s allies push their election fraud claims, the harder it becomes to satisfy their most hard-core followers. Even Taylor Greene, who is as far-right and pro-Trump as they come in the Republican Party, cannot seem to always please the fringe. Lately, she has been feuding online with L. Lin Wood, an Atlanta attorney who helped Trump sow doubts over his loss in Georgia, over which of them truly represents the Trump movement. Wood has accused her of not doing enough to uncover instances of voter fraud. She has said that Wood is “not one of us.” Such radicalization comes at a cost, said David Jolly, a former Republican congressman from Florida who is critical of the former president. At a time when the larger political trends are pointing toward trouble for the Democratic Party in 2022, he said, Trump’s actions risk interfering with what should be a good environment for Republicans. “This should be a 100%, straight-up referendum on Biden,” Jolly said. “Instead, you have Trump the narcissist trying to inject himself into what should be a glide path for Republicans to an incredibly successful election, by making it all about him.”

As Trump thunders about last election, Republicans worry about the next one

With all the subtlety of a bullhorn, former President Donald Trump has been hinting that he plans to run for office again in 2024.

And Republicans are so far treating him with the deference they displayed while he was in the White House as they wait to see if he makes his move.

On Saturday afternoon, Trump heads to Iowa for a rally at the state fairgrounds, a perennial stop on the presidential campaign circuit. Joining him will be several of the state’s top Republicans, including Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Charles E. Grassley and the chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, Jeff Kaufmann — a testament to the former president’s enduring dominance.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-former-aides-to-defy-subpoenas-from-jan-6-panel-419184">Trump tells former aides to defy subpoenas from Jan. 6 panel</a>

Trump’s unwillingness to cede the spotlight has cast doubt on the political futures of an entire group of Republican politicians who have suggested that they might someday want to run for president. And while they — like the rest of the country — can’t be sure what the notoriously fickle former president might do, some of them are trying to stake their claims as leaders in the party.

That requires a good deal of delicacy on their part. And it got a little awkward this week for two of them.

First there was former Vice President Mike Pence, whose refusal to interfere with the counting of the electoral votes on Jan. 6 deeply angered <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Trump</a> and helped precipitate the deadly assault on the Capitol that day. Pence gave an interview this week to Sean Hannity of Fox News and sounded at times an awful lot like someone who wants to be president.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-disagreements-over-january-6-pence-still-close-to-trump-418444">Despite disagreements over January 6, Pence still 'close to' Trump</a>

He attacked President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> for withdrawing US&nbsp;forces from Afghanistan. He also criticized the president’s approach to domestic affairs — for “lecturing the American people about vaccine mandates” and promoting what Pence called a “massive, big-government, socialist bill” before Congress that would widen the social safety net and address problems like climate change.

But when Hannity broached the subject of Pence’s reportedly frayed relationship with Trump, the former vice president tried to deflect by accusing the news media of blowing the events of Jan. 6 out of proportion, referring to it obliquely at one point as “one day in January.”

“They want to use that one day to try and demean the character and intentions of 74 million Americans who believe we could be strong again and prosperous again and supported our administration,” Pence said.

He did not address the fact that numerous rioters at the Capitol called for his execution during the attack, demanding that he be hanged for not carrying out Trump’s wishes. And Hannity didn’t bring it up.

Then there was a speech by Nikki Haley, another former Trump administration official whose relationship with Trump was damaged because she had declared herself “disgusted” with him after Jan. 6 and predicted that he’d “lost any sort of political viability.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-trump-drops-off-forbes-list-amid-pandemic-downturn-418624">Now, Trump drops off Forbes list amid pandemic downturn</a>

But Haley, who served as governor of South Carolina and ambassador to the United Nations, praised Trump in an appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. She criticized Trump’s political opponents for accusing him of being compromised by the Russians, and said that Biden’s posture toward Russia was weaker by comparison.

Separately, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal this week, she lauded Trump’s ability to “get strong people elected” and insisted, “I don’t want us to go back to the days before Trump.”

At the moment, that doesn’t seem like an option for Haley or anyone else who wants to have a bright future in the Republican Party. Trump continues to attack Republicans who broke with him after Jan. 6 and supported his impeachment, such as Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming.

His first rally since the day of the Capitol riot was in June outside Cleveland. He endorsed a local Republican who was challenging Rep. Anthony Gonzalez in next year’s primary election. Gonzalez, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the riot, announced last month that he was leaving Congress rather than staying to face his Trump-approved challenger.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-airs-old-election-grievances-at-campaign-style-rally-394254">Trump airs old election grievances at campaign-style rally</a>

Polls taken over the course of the year have shown that Trump remains the overwhelming favorite for Republican voters, suggesting that he would be difficult to beat in a primary if he did indeed run. Though his popularity suffered somewhat in the immediate aftermath of Jan. 6, most Republicans seem to have moved on. A Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday found that two-thirds of Republicans say Trump should continue to be a major national figure, an increase of 10 percentage points from January. Forty-four percent of Republicans or Republican-leaning voters want him to run again.

The Pew poll also found little tolerance for dissent. Asked whether their party should accept politicians who openly criticize Trump, 63 per cent&nbsp;said no.

With all the subtlety of a bullhorn, former President Donald Trump has been hinting that he plans to run for office again in 2024. And Republicans are so far treating him with the deference they displayed while he was in the White House as they wait to see if he makes his move.

With all the subtlety of a bullhorn, former President Donald Trump has been hinting that he plans to run for office again in 2024. And Republicans are so far treating him with the deference they displayed while he was in the White House as they wait to see if he makes his move. On Saturday afternoon, Trump heads to Iowa for a rally at the state fairgrounds, a perennial stop on the presidential campaign circuit. Joining him will be several of the state’s top Republicans, including Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Charles E. Grassley and the chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, Jeff Kaufmann — a testament to the former president’s enduring dominance. Also read | Trump tells former aides to defy subpoenas from Jan. 6 panel Trump’s unwillingness to cede the spotlight has cast doubt on the political futures of an entire group of Republican politicians who have suggested that they might someday want to run for president. And while they — like the rest of the country — can’t be sure what the notoriously fickle former president might do, some of them are trying to stake their claims as leaders in the party. That requires a good deal of delicacy on their part. And it got a little awkward this week for two of them. First there was former Vice President Mike Pence, whose refusal to interfere with the counting of the electoral votes on Jan. 6 deeply angered Trump and helped precipitate the deadly assault on the Capitol that day. Pence gave an interview this week to Sean Hannity of Fox News and sounded at times an awful lot like someone who wants to be president. Also read | Despite disagreements over January 6, Pence still 'close to' Trump He attacked President Joe Biden for withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan. He also criticized the president’s approach to domestic affairs — for “lecturing the American people about vaccine mandates” and promoting what Pence called a “massive, big-government, socialist bill” before Congress that would widen the social safety net and address problems like climate change. But when Hannity broached the subject of Pence’s reportedly frayed relationship with Trump, the former vice president tried to deflect by accusing the news media of blowing the events of Jan. 6 out of proportion, referring to it obliquely at one point as “one day in January.” “They want to use that one day to try and demean the character and intentions of 74 million Americans who believe we could be strong again and prosperous again and supported our administration,” Pence said. He did not address the fact that numerous rioters at the Capitol called for his execution during the attack, demanding that he be hanged for not carrying out Trump’s wishes. And Hannity didn’t bring it up. Then there was a speech by Nikki Haley, another former Trump administration official whose relationship with Trump was damaged because she had declared herself “disgusted” with him after Jan. 6 and predicted that he’d “lost any sort of political viability.” Also read | Now, Trump drops off Forbes list amid pandemic downturn But Haley, who served as governor of South Carolina and ambassador to the United Nations, praised Trump in an appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. She criticized Trump’s political opponents for accusing him of being compromised by the Russians, and said that Biden’s posture toward Russia was weaker by comparison. Separately, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal this week, she lauded Trump’s ability to “get strong people elected” and insisted, “I don’t want us to go back to the days before Trump.” At the moment, that doesn’t seem like an option for Haley or anyone else who wants to have a bright future in the Republican Party. Trump continues to attack Republicans who broke with him after Jan. 6 and supported his impeachment, such as Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming. His first rally since the day of the Capitol riot was in June outside Cleveland. He endorsed a local Republican who was challenging Rep. Anthony Gonzalez in next year’s primary election. Gonzalez, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the riot, announced last month that he was leaving Congress rather than staying to face his Trump-approved challenger. Also read | Trump airs old election grievances at campaign-style rally Polls taken over the course of the year have shown that Trump remains the overwhelming favorite for Republican voters, suggesting that he would be difficult to beat in a primary if he did indeed run. Though his popularity suffered somewhat in the immediate aftermath of Jan. 6, most Republicans seem to have moved on. A Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday found that two-thirds of Republicans say Trump should continue to be a major national figure, an increase of 10 percentage points from January. Forty-four percent of Republicans or Republican-leaning voters want him to run again. The Pew poll also found little tolerance for dissent. Asked whether their party should accept politicians who openly criticize Trump, 63 per cent said no.

Trump may run in 2024. So might they. It’s getting awkward.