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Some members of the Republican National Committee and the Republicans of the base support an effort to block the primary contenders to President Donald Trump, even though party insiders insist that It is too late to change the rules of the campaign for 2020.
The pressure to gather the support of the GOP people from the president comes in quickly while Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah issued a editorial in the Washington Post arguing only on issues of character. , "the president did not rise to the height of his duties". The 2012 GOP candidate also said that he would not run himself in 2020, but declined to support Trump in an interview with CNN.
In response to Romney's op-ed, Jevon Williams, a member of the Republican National Committee, called for a change in the rules of the RNC to prevent a costly primary challenge, which he deemed necessary. a "fantasy" that would weaken Trump's prospects for reelection.
"I ask for your support to take an unprecedented step: change the rules to fill the gaps in the re-nomination campaign," writes Williams in a letter to other NCR members, first reported by The Washington Examiner and obtained by NPR.
There is an open question as to whether the current rules of the RNC allow spending money to support Trump's reelection if there is a disputed primary for the nomination to the GOP presidency . This question helped to motivate those who, like Williams, hope to block a Trump challenger.
"The party can not spend money or resources in the event of a primary conflict," said a long-time RNC insider. "They stupidly did not change the rules substantially from 2016, which was an open cycle."
This effort comes as some Republicans are wondering if a presidential primary day. Republicans in South Carolina have left open the question of whether they would hold a presidential primary by 2020. The state qualifies their primary essential contest in the south of the country, but some party officials are afraid of To expose Trump to a challenger. [19659010] Trump enjoys tremendous support among GOP voters, hovering around 90% of the votes cast for Republican voters, and his support for the 2018 GOP primaries has been very powerful. This gives the impression that any major challenge at this stage is very long, but a handful of party personalities are viewed as possible adversaries.
In the lead up to a re-election campaign, Trump faces political problems with a new Democratic House that prepares dozens of investigations into the president and his administration, alongside the 39, Mueller's investigation into the 2016 election interference.
"I fully support Jevon's resolution. President Trump needs this expression of support from his party at the time, "said Marti Halverson, a member of the WRC National Committee for the RNC.
" Any Primary Attempt of [Ohio Gov. John] Kasich , [former Arizona Sen. Jeff] Flake or Romney is a dupe race. I support any attempt by the CNR to support President Trump and obtain his appointment as soon as possible, "said Guy Short, a six-time national delegate to Republican Congress and Veteran Platform and GOP Rules Committees.
It is unlikely that the proposal to change party rules to block a Trump challenger will succeed. According to Republican Party experts, it is too late to change the rules of the process President's nomination for 2020.
Morton Blackwell, who served on the RNC for thirty years as a representative of Virginia, told Williams that it was not possible to block the main challenges Trump for the moment
"I deplore President Elect Mitt Romney's disorderly attacks on President Trump, but it is too late to change the rules for selecting delegates to the National Convention Republican 2020, "said Blackwell in an email to Williams. with NPR. "The Republican National Committee can not legally change any of the Republican Party rules at the moment."
In 2016, a showdown broke out in the Republican convention rules committee and a minority of votes within the party sought to block Trump. to become the party's candidate at the convention in Cleveland. Two and a half years later, the environment within the party is absolutely favorable to Trump.
In some ways, the most notable opposition to William's rule change suggestion is made by those who think that Trump's support is so profound that it is not necessary .
"Donald Trump will have no problem winning a Republican primary – the base likes him … anyone who tries to challenge him will be defeated in a serious way. I'm not sure there is a need, "said Joe Gruters, a Florida state senator and leader of the next Florida GOP president.
Shawn Steel, a member of the California National Committee of the RNC, said that he did not support Williams' efforts to block Trump's challengers, fearing that he would have unintended long-term consequences. term. But he said that the RNC should nevertheless support Trump unanimously.
"If you are currently in the RNC and you do not support the president, you should go out," Steel told NPR. "The body is a political organization designed to support the president in power."
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