Haley will join a board of potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates on prime-time TV for the virtual convention – each in search of the kind of breakout moment that helped catapult Barack Obama into the presidency. South Dakota Gov. Christ Noem, Arkansas sen. Tom Cotton, and Iowa sen. Joni Ernst is expected to speak, as will South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who has appointed Haley to the First Chamber. So will Vice President Mike Pence and Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.
The primary 2024 “will be a battle for the party’s soul, and jockeying for position has already begun,” said Republican strategist Mike DuHaime, who helped spearhead the former president of New Jersey Gov. . Chris Christie 2016.
Some of the jockeying is in sight, and some of it plays out behind the scenes.
A few First Chamber members provided an early window into how candidates position themselves. While Cotton helped the founding-backed former ambassador Bill Hagerty in Tennessee, senses encouraged. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas the rebellious candidate, trauma surgeon Manny Sethi. (Hagerty won.) And while Cotton has thrown his weight behind retired Army brig. Gen. Don Bolduc in the upcoming New Hampshire primary, Paul supports self-described outsider Corky Messner.
Potential 2024 candidates are also auditioning for major employees. Cotton recently appeared at a donor conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo., Hosted by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Pence called in a conference call by the Republican Jewish Coalition, which is funded in part by megadonor Sheldon Adelson. Florida Senator Rick Scott has spoken to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about running for the National Republican Senate Committee, a position that would give him access to the party’s financiers.
Some early indications have emerged as to what major donors the candidates are cultivating. Employees at Paul’s super PAC include financial executive Jeffrey Yass, food processing company owner Chris Rufer and investor George Macricostas. All have a history of giving to libertarian causes.
Cotton’s super PAC has received funding from two sought-after Republican megadonors: Paul Singer, a billionaire hedge fund manager who shares the Arkansas senator’s hawkish approach to foreign policy, and Arkansas investment banker Warren Stephens.
Some candidates who want to be travel to early primary states despite the pandemic. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took a break from his busy overseas travel schedule for a recent appearance at the Iowa Family Leader summit, a regular stop for presidents hopeless. Paul is expected to campaign this fall for congressional candidates in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Noem is set to turn down a political dinner in Iowa in September and is expected to make a prospect appear in New Hampshire to campaign for Trump.
In other cases, prospective White House will use the 2020 elections to develop alliances that can pay in four years. Cruz has long been criticized for not coming with his colleagues, but the Texas senator intends to raise millions of dollars for candidates with down-ballot House by hosting a donors conference in Aspen, Colo., This week.
Earlier this year, Rick Scott invited half a dozen Republicans for election on his private jet to follow a series of fundraisers in Florida.
Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, has endorsed candidates through the Empower America Project, an organization dedicated to party diversification. Paul has been one of the most aggressive, spending millions through his super PAC to encourage Republican candidates.
“The Iowa cow is 840 days away. Candidates who do not use these opportunities to prepare make a profound mistake, “said Republican strategist Jeff Roe, who has worked on presidential campaigns in the past.” Any opportunity to build your brand, build your list, and your politics muscle flexion should be taken advantage of. “
“In 2024, people will ask what you did in 2020 to re-elect the president, save the House of Representatives and win the House,” Roe added. “Where were you when the case was made?”
The early jockeying caught the attention of the White House. Last week, several aides around a new one were released survey shows Pence leading in a prospective G24 primary, followed by Donald Trump Jr. and Haley. While Pence has focused his attention on the 2020 contest, his activity sometimes overlaps with states with early votes: The vice president went to Iowa last week, and he introduced New Hampshire candidate Matt Howers to party donors .
Pence has been in contact with leading conservative groups. He has hosted conference talks this summer hosted by The Heritage Foundation, an opponent of abortion rights Susan B. Anthony List and FreedomWorks.
The most pressing question facing future candidates is how – if they will reconcile with Trump. While Cotton and Rick Scott have taken the very unusual step of making TV commercials with the president, Maryland Gov. wrote. Larry Hogan a new book in which he blows the president because he was ‘whole place’ in response to the coronavirus.
Nebraska sen. Ben Sasse, another Trump critic, focuses on helping the election of fellow senators, not the president. A person close to Sasse said that after defeating a pro-Trump primary opponent this spring, the Nebraska senator would raise money and campaign for vulnerable senators. Sasse has already helped a list of incomes, including Ernst.
Others take advice from some of Trump’s closest associates. Noem has received informal advice from Trump’s 2016 campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been in regular contact with Brad Parscale, who until recently led Trump’s reelection campaign.
Some potential 2024 aspirants are making comedies in the presidential re-election campaign: First Chamber member Marco Rubio recently appeared on a conference call from Trump campaign and based then-Democratic Vice President Karen Bass on her views on Cuba.
The convention next week will provide the biggest stage yet. Donald Trump Jr. has drawn up his address with Professor George Mason University Law School Professor Frank Buckley and former White House assistants Cliff Sims and Andrew Surabian. Buckley helped the younger Trump with writing the fiery conventional speech of 2016 that helped preserve him to conservative prominence. (Despite widespread speculation, Trump Jr.’s allies insist he has no interest in running for president in 2024.)
Not everyone in the 2024 mix is sure to speak. Although the schedule was finalized earlier this week, Cruz and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley has no slots. It’s unclear whether Rick Scott or Paul will.
Long criticized for the lack of diversity in their ranks, Republicans say they seek to highlight minority and female officials during the convention. They also want to provide a platform to Trump’s nonpolitician supporters.
Republicans predicted that a Trump defeat would hasten the primary 2024, with candidates sparring on what direction the party should take.
“I think it first starts as a circular shooting party,” said Republican strategist Terry Sullivan, who was Rubio’s 2016 campaign manager. “There’s going to be a lot of guilt about that.”
