On July 24, Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, called upon the GOP donor class to exert influence on Republican candidates who are not performing well in the polls. He suggested that this pressure could encourage these candidates to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, a step he deemed necessary to secure victory against former President Donald Trump.
According to a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Romney emphasized the urgency for the donor class to act by February 2024 at the latest. He asserted that the presence of numerous GOP leaders vying for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2024 contributes to Trump’s perceived inevitability.
The senator stated that it is essential for GOP influencers and major donors to persuade the candidates they back to step aside if they have slim chances of winning the nomination. By narrowing the field to a two-person race before Trump solidifies his nomination, there is a higher likelihood of removing him from the competition.
He stressed the importance of this crucial step, noting that many candidates are unlikely to withdraw voluntarily due to the benefits of heightened exposure and financial incentives. Romney clarified that finishing the race in a position behind the first place is not necessarily a negative outcome, as it could pave the way for another presidential run in the future. The senator also quoted former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu, who expressed that running for president can still be an enjoyable experience, even if the candidate is aware of their slim chances of winning.
Nevertheless, Romney warned that if these candidates remain in the race for an extended period, they will inevitably divide the “non-Trump vote.” He elaborated on how this situation is advantageous for Trump as it enables him to secure “the prize,” emphasizing that a simple “plurality” is sufficient for victory in “winner-take-all primaries.”
In recent weeks, every poll has consistently indicated that the former president is the favored candidate to win the nomination, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis coming in second place. The remaining candidates have been polling in the low single digits. However, political analysts speculate that this dynamic could shift during the first presidential debate in August.
