| | | | The 'Never Trumpers' are getting very, very desperate |  | | It speaks to the total takeover of the Republican Party by Donald Trump that the lingering "Never Trump" movement within the GOP is reduced to trying to pretend they are excited about the idea of Joe Walsh, Mark Sanford or Bill Weld as their banner carrier in next year's presidential primary.
Walsh, the newest entrant (or near-entrant) into the race, was a flame-throwing one-term congressman who repeatedly pushed the much-debunked idea that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Sanford was bounced out of the governor's office in South Carolina after he left the country for a week to be with his Argentine girlfriend. Weld hasn't held elective office in more than two decades, and has been kicking around the fringes of presidential politics since the early 2000s.
This is, to put a fine point on it, a "Star Wars" bar of politicians.
While it's hard to imagine even a more serious Republican elected official -- like, say, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan or former Ohio Gov. John Kasich -- beating Trump in a primary, at least a candidacy by one of those sorts of politicians would signal to the GOP (and the broader country) that there remained a real and robust resistance to the sort of politics Trump peddles.
Instead, what "Never Trumpers" are left with are three pols running -- or thinking about running -- because they have nothing left to lose. All three are so irrelevant in national Republican politics that they are willing to embark on quixotic charges against Trump.
If this trio is the best the "Never Trumpers" can do, then it's very hard to take them seriously as a movement -- or even a loose affiliation of like-minded influencers -- within the Republican Party.
The Point: Beating Trump in a primary was never going to happen in 2020. But running a serious conservative alternative might have allowed certain elements within the GOP to preserve the idea that the whole of the party hadn't capitulated to Trump. That hope is now gone.
-- Chris | | "Will be going to Iowa next week and would love your wisdom on local perspectives if you are from the Buckeye state!"
-- Potential Trump primary challenger Mark Sanford mistaking Iowa's nickname (It's the Hawkeye State, Ohio is the Buckeye State) in a tweet. It was quickly deleted. | | | | Jay Inslee has dropped out of the presidential race and will run for reelection as governor of Washington -- illustrating one of the tried-and-true options for a failed presidential candidate. 🎧 Lauren has more on the three choose-your-own-adventure possibilities for former 2020 candidates in today's Point podcast. | | | We seriously stan the Highwomen. Here are some new ones from them. | | Who rounds out the latest ranking of the Democratic field -- and who's in danger of dropping out? Chris and Harry Enten assess the 2020 Democrats. | |
LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST | | Joe Walsh: Could challenge President Donald Trump in the Republican primary. Walsh is a former Illinois congressman and conservative radio host.
Bernie Sanders: Released a $16.3 trillion version of a "Green New Deal" plan to combat the climate crisis.
Kamala Harris: Has received donations from 750,000 individuals online, according to her campaign.
John Hickenlooper: Is no longer running for president -- but is now running for Colorado's US Senate seat.
Beto O'Rourke: Rolled out a plan to protect workers' rights by ensuring higher wages, protections for labor unions and an end to workplace discrimination.
Bill de Blasio: Had an audio glitch while appearing on video at an Iowa event and later joked about auditioning for Alvin and the Chipmunks. | | | 130
The number of House Democrats who now support beginning impeachment proceedings. The three latest supporters are Reps. Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Brad Schneider of Illinois and Mark Takano of California. | | | | | | |
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