Republican candidates for president are trying to present themselves as Donald Trump alternatives without acknowledging the GOP frontrunner and the new federal criminal charges against him.

Few even mentioned his name, and the new federal indictment he faces was completely ignored, as Republican candidates for president tried in Iowa Sunday to present themselves as Donald Trump alternatives.

  • Aesthesiaphilia@kbin.social
    2·
    11 months ago

    Or hoping he somehow gets disqualified, or says the wrong thing and makes his rabid base turn on him

    Or maybe they’re hoping he’ll flee to Russia

    Basically, Trump is playing a dangerous game, and there’s several ways it could go wrong. None of these guys can beat Trump, but if Trump goes down for any other reason they want to be waiting in the wings as second-best in the eyes of his followers. But in the meantime they don’t want to just get completely consumed by him, and they want to appeal to moderates.

    If Trump perceives them as a threat, he’ll turn on them.

    If they try to ride Trump’s coattails, he’ll use them and then abandon them like everyone else.

    Their best bet is to not directly confront Trump but also not fall under his shadow. Supportive, but separate.