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Less than four months before the first rounds of Republican nomination voting begins with the Jan. 15, 2024, Iowa caucuses, former President Donald Trump holds a commanding lead over GOP rivals. Trump is trying to become only the second president to earn a return White House stay, along with Grover Cleveland's 1892 victory after four years as a private citizen.

Various polls show Trump ahead by 20-30 points or more over rivals like Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). Also vying for the right to run against President Joe Biden in November 2024 are former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who was the Trump administration's U.S. ambassador to the United Nations for nearly two years, and ex-Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Plus, former Vice President Mike Pence, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).

PENCE TESTS APPETITE FOR OLD-SCHOOL CONSERVATISM IN TRUMP-ERA POPULIST GOP

Here are upcoming events where one or more candidates will attend and/or speak, along with events to which presidential candidates are invited.

Sept. 20 (Wednesday)

Former President Donald Trump campaign rally

Grand River Center

500 Bell Street

Dubuque, IA 52001

3 p.m. CST

Sept. 21 (Thursday)

Pause the World for Peace

Times Square

New York City, NY 10036

Sept. 25 (Monday)

Former President Donald Trump campaign rally

Sportsman Boats

113 Sportsman Way

Summerville, SC 29483

3 p.m. EST

Per the campaign of Marianne Williamson, an extreme long shot for the Democratic nomination against President Joe Biden, the event is part of the United Nations International Day of Peace. "Both in-person and global virtual audiences will experience the first ever 100% solar-powered concert in Times Square for peace and ecology." The concert "will accompany virtual messages from legacy peacekeepers like Ringo Starr, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall, Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra, Joe Dispenza, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, and Shakira."

Oct. 13-14 (Friday-Saturday)

Iowa Federation of Republican Women Biennial Convention

Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel

1800 50th St., West Des Moines, IA 50266

Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.-Saturday, Oct. 14, 4:30 p.m. CDT.

Invited speakers: "All Presidential Candidates," per event organizers.

October 27-29 (Friday-Sunday)

The Republican Jewish Coalition's Annual Leadership Summit

The Venetian Resort

3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89120

Starting on Friday, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. PDT

Featured speakers: Christie, DeSantis, Haley, Pence, Ramaswamy, and Scott.

The Las Vegas Strip event gives 2024 Republican hopefuls a chance to meet Nevada voters, in an early caucus state, and schmooze with potential campaign donors. Candidates will likely take to task the Biden administration over its Israel policies, including pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on efforts in his country the Middle East's only democracy to change the balance of power between its judiciary and elected officials.

"It is important that we stand with Israel and send a clear message to the sinister forces of the radical Left who seek to sow strife with our allies," Scott said in announcing his speaking role at the RJC event, on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Republicans seeking their party's 2024 nomination will have plenty of fodder, too, in renewing calls for the Biden administration to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority, specifically after a recent speech by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at his Fatah party's Revolutionary Council. Abbas, in the 18th year heading the PA of what was supposed to be a four-year term, repeated a number of antisemitic canards he has made over the years.

Those included unfounded claims about the origins of Ashkenazi Jews and that Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler had Jews slaughtered because of their "social role" as moneylenders, not because of enmity toward Judaism. Abbas, 87, also outlined the baseless theory that Ashkenazi Jews are not descended from ancient Israelites but an ancient Turkish people known as the Khazars, who, according to a discredited theory, converted to Judaism en masse.

"The truth that we should clarify to the world is that European Jews are not Semites," Abbas said, according to a translation of his remarks by the Middle East Media Research Institute. "They have nothing to do with Semitism."

U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Deborah E. Lipstadt criticized the remarks of Abbas.

"I am appalled by President Abbas' hateful, antisemitic remarks at a recent Fatah meeting. The speech maligned the Jewish people, distorted the Holocaust, and misrepresented the tragic exodus of Jews from Arab countries. I condemn these statements and urge an immediate apology," Lipstadt posted on X.

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But the Trump administration's ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, said in response the Abbas statements should be no surprise.

"Unfortunately, he has said this many times before. No point in demanding an apology he really believes this! Here's what might work: stop giving him hundreds of millions of dollars and stop treating him as a legitimate leader of his people. It may not bring peace but at least it brings dignity," Friedman posted on X.

Original Location: Republican Jewish Coalition event draws swath of 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls

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Republican Jewish Coalition event draws swath of 2024 GOP ... - Colorado Springs Gazette

A behind-the-scenes disagreement among Republican leadership caused a false start Wednesday for Ohios Redistricting Commission, which met under court order to create a semi-permanent fix to the states unconstitutional state legislative districts ahead of the 2024 elections.

Despite full attendance from the five Republicans and two Democrats on the commission Wednesday morning, the meeting didnt begin for over an hour after its scheduled start time. Eventually, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told the press that the delay was caused behind the scenes.

We just dont have an agreement between the House and Senate Republicans about who their chair should be, DeWine said.

The disagreement ultimately caused DeWine to suspend the meeting and push it back to Friday morning at 8 a.m., assuming Republican leadership notifies DeWine that they are ready to name their co-chair by end of the day Thursday. This shortens an already tight timeframe to create legislative maps, which Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said need to be done by Sept. 22 to give the states local boards of elections ample time to prepare for the March primary.

Despite LaRoses request, Democrats on the board say theyre not willing to rush the process. Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, and House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, both said theyre aiming to have maps passed around mid-October, providing ample time for citizens to weigh in on the process.

Last time the Ohio Redistricting Commission tried to draw maps In 2021 and early 2022, the effort dragged on for months as the commission passed state legislative maps five times, each of which were struck down by the Supreme Court of Ohio for being unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

A federal court finally ordered the state to use the last proposed maps despite them being ruled unconstitutional by the state court in 2022 only. Those are the current legislative boundaries the commission has now one week to rectify.

Each time the Ohio Redistricting Commission is formed, Republicans and Democrats each choose one member of the board to be co-chair, who takes point on negotiations on behalf of the party. Last time, Republican leadership agreed on a House having a co-chair. This time around, under different leadership, there was no such agreement between Senate President Matt Huffman and Speaker Jason Stephens heading into the meeting.

As far as the Senate is concerned, wed like to see the Senate have its opportunity to co-chair given that the House was co-chairing the last time but, again, thats just our preference. The Speaker and the President are the ones who have to come up with the conclusion, said Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, who was sworn onto the commission Wednesday morning.

As things stand, McColley, who served on the board last time around, would be vying for co-chair with Rep. Jeff LaRe, R-Violet Twp., who had a brief stint as co-chair in the commissions last iteration.

It is imperative members of the commission operate in good faith with the shared goal of delivering strong representation for the people of Ohio, LaRe said.

Republican infighting has not been unusual since House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, was elected to the speakers chair with support from House Democrats and a minority of House Republicans. Stephens has said he struck no deal with Democrats on issues like redistricting to get their support.

Jen Miller, executive director for the League of Women Voters of Ohio, an organization that has continued litigation against the states congressional and state legislative districts, said the delay and the events that preceded it show that politicians shouldnt be trusted with map-making power.

Miller also said that the delay showed that the Ohio Redistricting Commission wasnt controlled by its board members. Clearly, they were calling others that were in charge, she said.

Link:
Republican spat stalls redistricting process in first meeting - Dayton Daily News

RAPID CITY A Friday event intended to rally the South Dakota Republican Party around Donald Trumps visit to the state instead showcased division at the partys highest levels.

The states all-Republican, three-member congressional delegation Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds, and Rep. Dusty Johnson did not attend the event in the ice arena at The Monument. Their absence was loudly noted several times by a crowd of about 7,000.

Gov. Kristi Noem took what some in the audience appeared to interpret as a veiled jab at the delegation during her speech, after reciting a portion of former President Teddy Roosevelts famous Man in the Arena oration.

Let me be clear. There are many who choose not to be in the arena, Noem said. Many who take the easy path. Who criticize. Who dont show up for our party, our country or our constitutional rights. They dont show up for you when it really matters. They didnt even show up tonight to welcome a former president of the United States to South Dakota.

The remark drew jeers from the audience for the unnamed no-shows.

Earlier in the evening, as the crowd waited for the event to start, boos rained down while videos on a large scoreboard referenced the congressional delegation. One was a replay of Trumps speech at Mount Rushmore in 2020, in which he briefly recognized the delegation; the other was a promotional video about South Dakotas history of Republican leadership that mentioned each member of the delegation.

Their absence was drawn into further relief by the presence of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, who not only attended but also delivered a speech.

The offices of Thune, Rounds and Johnson told South Dakota Searchlight prior to the event that they had scheduling conflicts. Thune and Rounds have endorsed South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott for the Republican presidential nomination that Trump is seeking. Johnson has said he does not plan to endorse anyone.

Friday night, in a move that has long been a foregone conclusion, Noem formally endorsed Trump.

The event lacked something that had been expected by some observers: an indication from Trump that hes considering Noem as his running mate. He gave no such indication, although it wasnt for lack of a nudge from Noem.

That nudge came as she was reciting things people asked her during the runup to Trumps visit. Another question they ask is, Is President Trump going to pick you? she said, emphasizing pick and pausing for effect. As the most popular and favorite governor? And I said yes.

Trump, who has a vast lead in Republican presidential primary polling, did praise Noem as one of the most successful governors in the nation and said her endorsement means a lot.

Kristi, Im truly honored to receive your endorsement, Trump said. Very much so. I appreciate it.

It was Trumps third visit to South Dakota since Noems first run for governor, and he has been at her side each time first at a Sioux Falls fundraiser during her 2018 campaign, next at a Mount Rushmore fireworks display in 2020 at Noems invitation, and then in Rapid City on Friday night, where Noem introduced the former president.

The state Republican Party organized Fridays event, called the Monumental Leaders Rally, as a fundraiser. Party Chairman and state Sen. John Wiik told South Dakota Searchlight before the event that proceeds from the $25 individual tickets and the VIP packages at a price up to $25,000 to meet with Noem and Trump stayed with the party, minus expenses. Wiik said Trump may also have raised money from the event through separate efforts, but Wiik said he did not have those details.

In the absence of the congressional delegation, other state-level Republicans took the stage as warm-up acts for Noem and Trump. The undercard speakers included Wiik, Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen, School and Public Lands Commissioner Brock Greenfield, State Auditor Rich Sattgast, State Treasurer Josh Haeder, Attorney General Marty Jackley and Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden. All were later recognized verbally by Trump, as was former Trump campaign aide Corey Lewandowski, who has since been associated with Noem and was in attendance Friday.

Noem used her speech to cast South Dakota as a state thriving under her leadership, calling it a city on a hill during a very dark time.

Trumps speech began nearly two hours after the events 5:30 p.m. start, and he spoke for nearly two hours. He hit on his usual themes, including claims that the last election was rigged, that hell make elections more secure, that he alone can prevent World War III, that hell rid the nations schools of critical race theory, that hell ban transgender women and girls from participating in womens and girls sports, that Joe Biden is the worst president in history and that Trumps own administration accomplished more than any other.

In a piece of rhetoric aimed at South Dakotas agricultural industry, Trump boasted that farmers picked up big, fat, beautiful checks during his administration, thanks to his efforts to secure government payments to farmers during the pandemic. Trump said farmers got so much help from him that hes all but assured of winning farm country in the 2024 election.

Trump supporters took to the streets as many as nine hours before the event. Charles Hibbs, of White River, waved a giant Trump flag on a street corner near the arena at 10 a.m. Another Trump supporter stood nearby in a T-shirt that read, Fake media is the virus. Trump picked up on the fake media theme during his speech, going on an extended riff about the media and accusing it of not sufficiently showing or describing the size of the crowd.

Most tickets were general admission, which meant earlier arrivals got better seats. By early afternoon, lines stretched hundreds of feet back from the arena. Trump supporters, decked out in red, white and blue and all manner of Trump-themed apparel, stood for hours under a hot sun in mid-80s temperatures.

In the neighboring park, a small cluster of Native Americans sat in the shade and marveled at the lines. Floyd Bullman, a member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe, criticized Trumps apparent lack of planning for the attendees well-being.

If hes a billionaire, he couldve at least put out some porta-potties, Bullman said.

The local group Liberty and Justice for All obtained a protest permit from the city, but several hours before the event, only three protesters stood under a pop-up shade near the arena. Many Trump supporters passed by without comment, but some hurled insults. You guys are sad, one passerby said, quickly followed by another who added, You guys are a joke.

Toni Diamond, a protester and secretary of the state Democratic Party, wanted to provide a visible alternative presence.

We just want people to know there are people here in South Dakota that arent for Trump, that have an opposing opinion, Diamond said.

Fellow protester Mark Thalacker said he doesnt understand Trump supporters.

Ive seen all the negative things that hes done, how much he lies. It just blows me away, Thalacker said. And for people to still believe the lies that he tells, well, it just amazes me. So were trying to make some cracks in that wall.

Tim and Roxy Dix would rather keep that wall plugged. The rural Rapid Citians are staunch Trump supporters.

Hes got great ideas and hes not a politician. Hes a businessman, Roxy said.

Would they consider supporting another Republican for president who hasnt lost the popular vote twice, been impeached twice, and been indicted four times?

Not a chance.

Its all b, Tim said. Hes an actual winner, and they all know he won the last election.

This article first appeared in theSouth Dakota Searchlight,a sistersite of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.

Here is the original post:
Trump rally highlights Republican division with booing of absent ... - Nebraska Examiner

Former GOP Rep. John Katko (N.Y.) said that the polls showing a hypothetical match-up between President Biden and former President Trump should “send off alarm bells” to the Republican Party.

Katko said on ABC’s “This Week” that despite “how bad” Biden’s numbers are, Trump is still not beating him.

“Trump is not beating him. Trump’s even with him,” he said on the panel. “And so that should send off alarm bells in my opinion in the Republican Party. And if you look at it, you have a group of people that they put Biden against, and the only one that’s got a significant lead would be Nikki Haley.”

“And that just tells you something. Nikki Haley’s almost three decades younger than Biden. And that’s something that you want to think about. And I think the American people are looking at that,” he added.

A CNN poll released last week found that Haley is the only GOP contender who has an edge over Biden. Haley led Biden with 49 percent support to his 43 percent, while every other major Republican candidate remains neck and neck with him.

Katko’s comments come as Democratic voters also raise concerns about Biden’s age. The CNN poll found that more than half of Democrats are worried about the age of Biden, who is 80.

Katko noted that even though Biden’s accomplishments are “well known,” it’s not reflected in the poll numbers.

“So those numbers, if you look at the polling over the last several months, are getting worse,” Katko said. “They’re not getting better. So despite all his so-called achievements, he’s in real trouble. And again, you go back to how is it the Republican Party doesn’t look at this poll and realize there’s a real opportunity if it’s not Trump? And that’s something I think they’ve got to wrestle with over the next few months.”

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Former House Republican says Biden, Trump polls should send off alarm bells to GOP - The Hill

In no setting is bachelorhood more of a liability than the presidential campaign trail. Only two men, Grover Cleveland and James Buchanan, have ever clinched the White House without a wedding band. And given the concerns already swirling around 57-year-old Tim Scotts singlehood, the South Carolina senator is going to have a tough time becoming the third.

Much of these concerns, according to the Republican presidential hopeful, are being clandestinely fueled by his primary rivals. People plant stories that have conversations to distract from our rise in the polls, to distract from [the] size of our audience, Scott said during a visit to New Hampshire Thursday when confronted with a recent Axios report on GOP donors feeling skittish about his marital status. What weve seen is that poll after poll says that the voters dont care, but it seems like opponents do care, and so media coverage that opponents plantits okay. Good news is we just keep fighting the good fight.

While Scott did not specify which of his opponents he deems responsible for advancing the narrative, he may have been referring to a piece penned this week by Boston Globe columnist Rene Graham, titled, Tim Scott Has a Woman Problem. The column argued that Scotts bachelorhood is particularly damaging for a prospective Republican president, given the resilient homophobia on the right. Bachelor status is code for sexual identity, wrote Graham. And Republicans not keen on a candidate facing four criminal trials might be even more unlikely to support someone they might believe could be a closeted gay man.

Fellow South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham faced a similar predicament when he ran for president in 2016. A lifelong bachelor, Graham, 61 at the time of the 2016 election, was hounded by questions about his romantic life, and at least two late-night hosts made subtle jokes about his sexuality.

As for Scotts romantic life, he has been reluctant to reveal many details at all. But when he first launched his campaign in May, he did confess to actively dating. Theres always time for a great relationship with a wonderful woman, and I thank God that that is happening, he told NBC News.

A two-term senator, Scott has also tried to reframe the liability as a selling point for voters, telling Axios that, if elected, he would likely have more time, more energy, and more latitude to do the job than a married man. In the same interview, he suggested that more and more Americans can relate to a midlife bachelor. The fact that half of Americas adult population is single for the first time, he said, to suggest that somehow being married or not married is going to be the determining factor on whether or not youre a good president or notit sounds like were living in 1963, not 2023. (The actual number of single adults in the US is closer to 30%, according to Pew Research.)

Fair or not, Scott parried questions about his romantic life by proudly declaring himself a 30-year-old virgin early in his political career. He also advocated for sexual abstinence until marriage, a position he held as recently as 2012. At the end of the day, the Bible is very clear: abstinence until marriage. Not to do so is a sin, he told National Journal at the time; although in the same interview, he hinted that he may have failed to remain chaste. When the then 46-year-old was asked if he was still adhering to the same virtues that he had at 30, he said, Yeah, not as well as I did back then. Youre better off to wait. I just wish we all had more patience.

The topic came up again shortly after Scott announced his 2024 presidential bid, when Washington Post journalist Ben Terriswho wrote the National Journal pieceasked the candidate whether he was still a virgin. Im not talking about my sex life with Ben Terris, Scott demurred, before using a timeless excuse to escape any awkward question. I have to go potty.

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Tim Scott Claims That Republican Hopefuls Are Feasting on His ... - Vanity Fair