Candidate Bombs About To Go Off In Republican Party...

 

By EDUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ

McALLEN, Texas | Maybe it was just a slip of the tongue. Or perhaps it was exactly what was on his mind. Appearing fresh and smooth on a morning talk show, Republican Speaker of The House Kevin McCarthy let-go an unguarded analysis of where twice-indicted Donald J. Trump stands in his bid for a second term in The White House.

McCarthy, who has yet to offer a public endorsement of the troubled former president, told CNBC that he believes Trump could beat President Joe Biden in 2024, but when asked about the numerous investigations currently dragging Trump down he said: "The question is, is he the strongest to win the election? I don't know that answer."

And then a few hours later, McCarthy backtracked, telling reporters he actually thinks Trump is stronger today than when he won in 2016.

Yeah. The expected dogpile for the job has yet to take the stage. Already, there are at least nine candidates who have said they wish to beat Biden next year. The list may grow. Big names so far in the race include former Vice-President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron De Santis (shown with Trump in photo above), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (see graphic photo atop this post), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.

A handful of clear long shot others are thinking about running, like former governor of Texas Rick Perry and former Texas Congressman Will Hurd. Investor Vivek Ramaswamy is out there, as well. Way, way out there in his case. There with the glib Ramaswamy is Miami, Florida Mayor Francis Suarez.

Well, that's the line-up at this stage of the campaign.

It's still a bit early, so we may see a few others eventually enter the race. Primaries do not arrive until next Spring, but the question out there is who will land the first vicious and meaningful blow on Trump.

Chris Christie has not been shy about saying Trump cannot win in 2024. Like others, he points to Trump losses in 2020 (for himself) and in 2022, when many of those he endorsed for Congress were also defeated.

Former Veep Mike Pence has been coy when asked about Trump. He'd rather say the country is ready for someone else. But it may be Pence who goes low first. He certainly has the goods on his former boss and is still upset at the way Trump incited the January 6, 2020 rioters at the U.S. Capitol Building while Pence was in there certifying the 2020 vote for Biden. It must grate him to be reminded that many of the rioters wanted him hanged.

Still, it is DeSantis at the forefront of these wannabes. The fluffy Florida governor has gone full extremist in trying to outdo Trump's extremism. This week, DeSantis addressed the so-called Southern Border problem and suggested the U.S. use "force" to resolve the immigration issue. That, Desantis added, would include going into Mexico to also clean-up the drug cartel mess. Some are saying DeSantis has been taking off his gloves slowly and will soon unload the heavy stuff against Trump. Trump, meanwhile, has said he has "dark, secret goods" on DeSantis. What that may be is anybody's guess, although reckless Trump is not above slinging groundless mud.

It was Trump who called U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's wife "ugly" during the 2016 campaign. He also called 2016 candidate Carly Fiorina "Horse Face" and Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio "Little Marco". If insults are again the lingo of the Republican Party's presidential campaigns, then blowhard Trump will likely win that contest.

His newest opponents do not seem to be into name-calling, although Chris Christie has called Trump a "loser" and a loudmouth. No one has a called him a lard ass or a Cheeto to his face. We'll see. The stakes are high, higher than they were in 2016. 

The upcoming debates between these guys should again be fierce and savage, it says here.

Look for a rain of carpet bombings soon, after New Year's Day for sure...

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[Editor's Note:...Journalist Robbie Sabo reported from New Jersey. Also contributing from Miami was Sun Sports Editor Jerry McHale...]