The RNC is considering a resolution that will declare Donald Trump the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee.
Ronna McDaniel, the chair of the RNC, must be under intense pressure from Team Trump to do it. She’s beholden to Trump for her job – he chose her for the role – and she has been a very loyal soldier for him. Trump is angry now that Nikki Haley refuses to suspend her campaign as his other opponents have done. She’s not ready to give up and he’s not happy.
Trump was in New York City today for the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit. It was a good time for Ronna to distract and put this story out. Trump doesn’t have anywhere near the number of delegates required to win the nomination, of course, because only two states have voted. The nominee needs 1,215 delegates. As of Thursday, it looks like Trump has 32 delegates and Haley has 17. It’s a way for the RNC to push aside Nikki Haley and show its support for Trump. If a resolution is approved, Trump would have access to the RNC’s data operation, the RNC would fundraise with him, and his campaign would have the support of the RNC’s ground operations.
This is not how things are done, yet, here we are. Is it acceptable now for the RNC to choose the candidate? That is what this resolution means. Nikki Haley, whether she is your candidate or not, deserves to stay in as long as she can. Trump shouldn’t get a coronation. He was the last Republican president but he isn’t an incumbent president.
The resolution, which is being reviewed by the RNC, was proposed by David Bossie, an RNC committeeman from Maryland who recently endorsed Trump. The resolution was first reported by The Dispatch on Thursday. A draft copy of the resolution was obtained independently by CNN.
“RESOLVED that the Republican National Committee hereby declares President Trump as our presumptive 2024 nominee for the office of President of the United States and from this moment forward moves into full general election mode welcoming supporters of all candidates as valued members of Team Trump 2024,” the resolution reads.
The Haley campaign said if McDaniel wants to be helpful she should organize a debate in South Carolina. Heh.
“Who cares what the RNC says? We’ll let millions of Republican voters across the country decide who should be our party’s nominee, not a bunch of Washington insiders,” Haley spokeswoman Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement. “If Ronna McDaniel wants to be helpful she can organize a debate in South Carolina, unless she’s also worried that Trump can’t handle being on the stage for 90 minutes with Nikki Haley.”
That would be interesting, don’t you think? Trump vs Haley on a debate stage in Haley’s home state. Trump has all the top level political support in South Carolina and Haley is expected to lose the primary. The question is by how much she loses to Trump. It will be an embarrassment for her. She will have to make a decision then whether she carries on or not. She risks torching future political capital if she is interested in running in 2028.
Next week in Las Vegas, the RNC will hold its winter meeting. The resolution could come up then and be put together.
On the other side of the aisle, Joe Biden is deteriorating before our eyes. He was in Wisconsin on Thursday, having a normal one.
JOE BIDEN: “In beer brew here… Huh ish issah use to make the brew beer here.. Issh Weer-fining… Oooooh Earth Rider… Thanks for the Great Lakes!” pic.twitter.com/qfHeoIxEj1
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) January 25, 2024
Confused Biden just called Donald Trump his “professor.” pic.twitter.com/5QqEm65BuO
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) January 25, 2024
Nothing to see here, just move along.
UPDATE: i finished writing this before Trump came out against the RNC going forward with David Bossie’s resolution. He said he wants the regular process to take its course. He knows he can’t unite the party if he endorses the RNC’s version of Stop The Count.
Donald Trump thanks the RNC for their devotion to him. pic.twitter.com/OnkHWv49C9
— Unfiltered☢Boss (@Unfilteredboss1) January 25, 2024