If the Republican primary is simply about a clash of personalities, no one on that stage will be able to defeat the ultimate entertainer-in-chief.
Even before the first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 cycle kicks off, former President Donald Trump is already the 800-pound gorilla in the room—whether he is on the stage or not. Months of news cycles focused on whether he will show up have played into Trump’s hands by keeping him at the center of attention. Unquestionably, some candidates will spend more time at the debate defending Trump from four different indictments than articulating why the Republican Party must move in a different direction. Meanwhile, to even get on the stage, candidates were forced to sign a pledge of fealty when no one expected for a moment that Trump would bother to return the favor.
If the Republican primary is a referendum on whether to remain a cult of personality, it’s clear which side currently has the upper hand. Despite this depressing state of affairs, all hope is not lost. The fact that tonight is only the first debate is a reminder that voters are only now beginning to pay attention to the Republican primary.
However, Trump cannot be defeated with nothing. When I announced I was not seeking the Republican nomination, I noted that in 2020 the party didn’t even bother passing a campaign platform and that we needed to start having a real debate about what can still unite us as Republicans if we ever hope to return to a party of principle.
