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No seasoned, successful politician runs for president without a theory of the case a detailed and plausible path to victory. And as more prospective candidates surface, its becoming clearer whats at the heart of those plans: a growing belief within the party that DeSantis is a paper tiger.

At one time, the Florida governor looked to be the candidate best positioned to knock off Trump, en route to finishing off President Joe Biden. DeSantis was Trump without the baggage and 32 years younger.

He was coming off an epic 2022 reelection victory in the nations third-largest state, marked by Floridas biggest winning margin in 40 years. Officials in both parties did a double take at his robust performance among all Latino groups.

With DeSantis, the GOP could get the same conservative policies as Trump, the same unyielding approach, the same judges, the same trolling of the libs. He was a party leader on Covid. The suburbs would be back in play. So would the five states Biden flipped from Trump in 2020.

But DeSantis Disney jihad and his Ukraine-is-a-territorial-dispute stumble have undermined his aura of competence among donors and the business community. Trumps relentless attacks none of them answered and his drum beat of abuse have left the two-term governor bruised. Far from projecting strength, DeSantis suddenly appears to be a candidate whos thrived in a protective cocoon, isolated from media scrutiny, and surrounded by a compliant legislature afraid to test him.

On the eve of his launch, DeSantis now confronts the perception that he is a porcelain candidate, glazed and decorative, durable enough, but not really built to withstand the blunt impact of Trumps hammer or the full fury of a united Democratic Party.

Yet the notion that DeSantis is ripe for a takedown is only part of the reason why the presidential race is suddenly looking so enticing. In the three years since Trump lost reelection, there is little evidence to suggest he can win back the White House and much evidence to suggest hell drag the party to defeat with him.

This is what a healthy portion of the GOP political operative class and the donor class believes. Most of Trumps primary rivals think it, too. Some of them, like Christie, are willing to say it out loud.

Donald Trump has done nothing but lose since he won the election in 2016. We lost the House in 2018. The Senate and the White House in 2020. We underperformed in 2022 and lost more governorships and another Senate seat, he said in a recent radio interview.

DeSantis says it privately. According to a New York Times report, the governor told supporters and donors in a call Thursday that Trump cant win, pointing to all the data in the swing states, which is not great for the former president and probably insurmountable because people arent going to change their view of him.

Against that backdrop, its not a bad bet to jump in now under the expectation of filling the role DeSantis was once assumed to hold. But there is a sense of urgency: any new entrants must get in before DeSantis has the opportunity to use his considerable resources to make it a two-person primary with Trump. The clock begins ticking next week.

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DeSantis' weakness as Trump slayer has GOP rivals smelling blood - POLITICO

So, in the spirit of helping a fellow techie beat Trump in the primary, heres some advice, Vivek, to help you maximize your chances of winning the Republican nomination and squaring off with Joe Biden next fall.

You are making your mark by saying yes to every media request that comes in and every group that wants to hear from you, from little podcasts to local New Hampshire political groups to late night cable news outlets. This is a great contrast to what other candidates will do with their careful and deliberate press strategies. Youre 37 years old. You can out-energy other candidates. Keep doing it. Thats how my campaign first gained momentum, and it will pay off for you as well.

Early in my campaign, someone said to me, People can tell if youre having a good time. And if youre having a good time, it rubs off on those around you. A lot of the other Republican candidates seem miserable. Their messages are of anger, grievance and despair. You can express emotion and urgency without being a drag to listen to or be around. You can out-positive other candidates, and that will attract voters who are tired of politicians fire-and-brimstone speeches.

It doesnt matter as much in a Republican field, but there is a galaxy of folks who mediate what kind of coverage you get and what people say about you. Im talking about the bloggers, the beltway journalists, the talking heads, the party county chairs in the early states, and the handful of local reporters left on the beat. One of the downsides of being new is that you dont have as many relationships with these folks. Its hard to move them into your column after one meeting. But you can make them neutral. You can keep checking in. And if youre still in the field in January when others drop out, it will pay off.

OK, heres what I wish I had done differently. My team had me doing media appearances all the way up to debate day and on the day itself. This was a mistake. The debates are a whole different animal, and an opportunity to reach people who have never seen you before. You should treat them as such and take a break leading up to the first debate in August; prepare, get coached, practice and develop a different mode of expressing yourself. Its not actually a debate its a distributed competitive media appearance against a bunch of people who have been doing it for years and decades with moderators who will sideline you. If you go in without the right approach, it will show. Regardless of who else is on stage you have to leave viewers with a lasting memory or positive impression with the limited opportunities youll have.

Trump dominates memes. A lot of people see them. You are Internet-friendly, but most of the social media you put out are slick videos or snippets from media appearances. Amplify the homegrown efforts from your #Ramaswamaniacs. If you show them love, they will redouble their efforts and more will join them. I saw that firsthand when the #YangGang became a driving force behind my campaign. Someone once said, He who wins the Internet wins everything. Trump owns the Internet. If you change that you become a real threat.

Most of your competitors will be following the conventional wisdom that they should conserve their money until late in the game when the voting starts. Theyll also constantly be hustling for money to demonstrate viability and have credible quarterly reports. You are the most serious self-funder out there aside from Trump, who famously doesnt like to spend his own money. With a reported net worth of $600 million, use it to buy advertising early, staff up, get bigger crowds, donate to local candidates and non-profits and make friends. Everyone likes a rich guy who is actually generous.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy steps off his bus after arriving at a campaign rally on May 11, 2023, in Urbandale, Iowa.|Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo

When I ran for president, I won the Iowa youth straw poll and was named Candidate Id most want to get a beer with. So why didnt I break through? Everyone likes to win. The threshold question for Democrats was, Who can beat Trump? They chose Biden. This time for Republicans, its, Who can beat Biden? Dont make the same mistake I did: Really make the case that you can clean Bidens clock and bring about policies and a regime change without the baggage or drama of Trump. Why choose a coin flip when you can choose a sure thing?

Everywhere you go, you will find people who are anxious about AI. They see the world changing underneath their feet. You understand technology and innovation better than just about anyone else just like I did in 2020. Tell them that you will see to it that they will be included in the economy of the 21st century if you are president. Forty-two percent of the people who supported me werent Democrats, in part because they liked hearing about policies like Universal Basic Income that will actually matter in their lives. Almost two-thirds of Americans now want UBI, and a ton of these people are Republican primary voters. You can broaden your coalition if you include the policy as part of your platform.

I got a ton of support among Independents because they were tired of artificial, machine politicians. So many just wanted someone from outside the establishment. You can be the maverick human who doesnt owe anyone anything but the truth and who talks like a real person. Does that remind you of anyone? That was Trumps appeal. It can be yours too. Just remember: The better you do, the more the consultants around you will try to sand down your appeal. Dont let them. The fact is the hired guns who populate your campaign would rather lose professionally than maximize your chances of a breakout victory. Play to win. And make sure there are people around you who say, Let Vivek be Vivek.

Running for president is an incredible journey. You have a real opportunity to deliver for the millions of Americans who want something different in their leaders. If you follow these points, you will maximize your chances to represent the GOP in the 2024 election. It will be an uphill climb. But hey, worst case, after the campaign you can come join me in the Forward Party.

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9 Ways Vivek Ramaswamy Can Beat Donald Trump, According to ... - POLITICO

Donald Trump found liable in civil sexual abuse case. What it means.

A jury found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse in the E. Jean Carroll civil suit. Here's what the verdict could mean for Trump's political future.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said Thursday that former President Donald Trump cannot win the 2024 general election and will look for alternatives as his party plans to take on Democrat Joe Biden next year.

"I think President Trump's time has passed him by," Cornyn said during a conference call with Texas reporters. "And I think what's the most important thing for me is that we have a candidate who can actually win.

"I don't think President Trump understands that when you run in a general election, you have to appeal to voters beyond your base."

The comments from Texas' senior senator come nine days after a civil jury in New York found the former president liablefor sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and then defaming her after she had come forward with allegations against him. That verdict was followed a day later by Trump's bombastic town hall with CNN, during which he again mocked Carroll.

Despite that verdict coupled with the 34-count criminal indictment related to hush-money payments to conceal a sexual dalliance and an ongoing Justice Department investigation into the removal of classified documents from the White House Trump is the early frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination.

Cornyn said that frontrunner status is illusory.

"There's no question that President Trump has some enthusiastic supporters as part of his base," Cornyn said. "That works well for him in a Republican primary, but not well when you need to expand your appeal in a general election."

After losing the 2020 election to Biden, Trump's relationship with Cornyn has soured. Last year the Texan helped broker a bipartisan deal on a federal gun bill that closed the boyfriend loophole by including dating partners on a list of people barred from legally purchasing firearms if convicted of domestic violence. In response, Trump called Cornyn a "RINO," or "Republican in name only."

In the 2020 election when Cornyn was elected to his fourth term in the Senate, he drew about 72,600 more voters in Texas than Trump did when he carried the state for the second time.

Cornyn did not endorse any of Trump's announced or potential rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, saying Republicans "need someone as an alternative" and that he'll be closely watching as the field takes shape.

"Electability to me is key," he said, "because unless you can win an election, you don't get to govern."

John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at jmoritz@gannett.comand follow him on Twitter@JohnnieMo.

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Cornyn says Trump can't win 2024 general election and that 'time ... - El Paso Times

Donald Trump Jr. announced on Twitter Thursday that he is publishing a non-woke mens lifestyle magazine.

Field Ethos promises, according to its website, to bring back a forgotten lifestyle to those who refuse to conform, with articles on hunting, fishing and more by old-school adventurers who make no apologies for who we are.

It is unapologetic, Trump Jr. was quoted as saying.

Donald Trumps eldest son is also behind Winning Team Publishing, which earlier this year released the former presidents book Letters To Trump and is set to publish titles by Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro and failed Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.

Trump Jr. in July plans to tour Australia to talk about what he claims is the biggest existential threat we face in the West and is literally the decay of Western society, namely what he calls cancel culture and woke identity politics.

The Trump scion, on social media and via his Rumble podcast, frequently plays into right-wing talking points about masculinity and describes himself on Instagram as a Meme Wars General, previously posting memes of his dad as Baby Yoda and styled as a Pornhub thumbnail.

Critics on Twitter quickly turned the page on his latest business venture:

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Donald Trump Jr.s New Non-Woke Men's Magazine Gets Shredded By Critics - Yahoo News

While numerous parties deserve blame for the overturning of Roe v. Wade last JuneMitch McConnell, the antiabortion lobby, the Supreme Courts conservative goon squadone man in particular deserves the majority of that blame. We speak, of course, of Donald Trump, who initially ran for president on the vow that he would exclusively appoint justices who would roll back the landmark decision and then did just that. To wit: Shortly after Roe was gutted last year, Trump took credit for the move, saying it was only made possible because I delivered everything as promised. In fact, just this morning, he took to Truth Social to declare: After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the shock of everyone, and for the first time put the Pro Life movement in a strong negotiating position over the Radicals that are willing to kill babies even into their 9th month, and beyond. Without me there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever is finally agreed to. Without me the pro Life movement would have just kept losing. Thank you President TRUMP!!!

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Obviously, this statementwhich includes one of the ex-presidents favorite lies, that babies were once aborted in the 9th month, and beyondwould be disturbing enough on its own. But its particularly bizarre given that just last night, Trump claimed that in a second term hes going to make a deal on abortion that will unite the entire country.

Speaking to Newsmax, Trump said that with the downfall of Roe, he won the antiabortion community the power of negotiation. Then he declared: I put them in a position. Now, [Ron] DeSantis, or Ron DeSanctimonious as I call him, he came out with the six weeks. Other people agree with it. And a lot of people dont. Were in a position now, and Im gonna be leading the charge. Were in a position now where we can get something that the whole country can agree with, and thats only because I got us out of theRoe v. Wade,where the pro-life people had absolutely nothing to say. But on pro-life, I will tell you, what I did onRoe v. Wade, nobody elsefor 50 years theyve been trying to do it. I got it done. And now were in a position to make a really great deal, and a deal that people want. Emphasis ours because Trump says a lot of stupid stuff a lot of the time, but these claims are definitely up there given that (1) in the year 2023, there is virtually nothing all Americans can agree on, with the exception of airlines being evil andMitch McConnells beingthe spawn of Satan, and (2) it seems just slightly hard to believe that the man who regularly brags about killing the national right to an abortion is going to come up with something that the whole country will love.

Trump, of course, is in something of a bind right now as he simultaneously attempts to court antiabortion evangelicals and seem not too extreme on the issue. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America put out a blistering response last month to his campaignsstatementtoThe Washington Postthat states should decide abortion laws, as opposed to the countrys having a national ban. President Trumps assertion that the Supreme Court returned the issue of abortion solely to the states is acompletely inaccurate reading of theDobbsdecisionand is a morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate to hold,saidSBA Pro-Life America presidentMarjorie Dannenfelser.Life is a matter of human rights, not states rights. We will oppose any presidential candidate who refuses to embrace, at a minimum, a 15-week national standard to stop painful late-term abortions while allowing states to enact further protections.

Meanwhile, the irony here is that if Trump actually wanted to attempt to unite the country, or as much of it as possible, hed make a deal to expand abortion access, given that nearly two thirds of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, and a majority of the country disapproved of Roe v. Wades being overturned. But, of course, hes not going to do that, just like hes not going to stop repeating the absurd lie that before Roe was overturned, they could kill the baby in the ninth month or after the baby was born.

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Donald Trump, in the Span of 10 Hours, Brags That He Managed to Kill Roe v. Wade and Will Make a Deal on Abortion That the Whole Country Will Love -...