Some Republicans who said they would never support former President Donald Trump again feel President Biden’s policies and leadership cannot afford a second term, and they intend to do just that in November. Looks like they’re ready.
“This is not a passionate vote,” former Nikki Haley supporter Eric Levine said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “There is no other choice.”
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Mr. Levine, a prominent Republican fundraiser, wrote an essay last week to a vast network of Republican donors and activists, saying his initial resolve after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was “never again.” Although he had said he did not support Trump, he informed him that he would support Trump from now on. that.
Some voters are surprised by the return to former President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
At the beginning of his note, he wrote, “The adage ‘never say never’ is wise.”
Republican strategist John Feehely said whether Republicans who are “never Trump” will return to Biden depends on “how horrified they are by Biden’s policies.”
Such was the case with Levine. He described his decision-making process as, “What am I going to do, other than being very angry with Biden?”
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For Levine, the choice was never between Biden and Trump. Rather, it was a question of whether to stay home on Election Day or return to Trump.
“Obviously some people are going to go back to Trump,” Republican strategist Doug Hay explained. He noted that this happens after the primary election and is “what the campaign calls a ‘going home.'”
“But no one knows what that number is,” he added. The rematch between Trump and Biden is likely to be competitive, and the exact numbers could make the difference.
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Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Research Center, said it’s “too early to know,” but that “voters can rationally explain why they vote for their own party’s candidate rather than their party’s.” He has an excellent ability to explain things.” partner. ”
“As we get closer to the election, I think after Labor Day, most of the people who voted against Trump in the primaries will eventually turn to support Trump,” he predicted.
Former President Trump and President Biden appear to be aiming for a rematch in 2024. (Getty Images)
Levine sent a memo to the Republican Network and was surprised by the number of responses he received. “Surprisingly, at the extreme, [Never-Trumpers]it was divisive,” he said.
“There [were] There were a lot of people who said, “Yes, I think we have to do that.” [support Trump]. ”
Ahead of the Republican primary, many Trump-hating Republicans flocked to Haley.
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According to various exit polls in New Hampshire and South Carolina, Ms. Haley appeared to be more moderate than her opponents in the race, attracting a significant percentage of independent voters. Her coalition was unique, drawing support from disaffected Republicans who may have grown weary of President Trump. She was successful in attracting Democratic support in some states, allowing those voters to participate in Republican primaries.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (Republican) endorsed Haley ahead of the state’s primary, where she received 43% of the vote. But in March, he shocked some by announcing he planned to vote for Trump, despite his previous criticism of the former president. “The vast majority of people definitely come back after primary school,” he says.
“Biden has done so badly for himself and his party that people will turn to Trump,” he said. He said they recognize that it’s about “Republican policy, whether you support a Republican administration or not.”
The Biden campaign is welcoming backers of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley. (Getty Images)
The Biden campaign has been actively trying to recruit Haley’s supporters. The president’s team also ran 30-second ads in battleground states asking voters to “save America” and “join us.”
By contrast, the Trump campaign has made no such concrete effort to attract Haley’s coalition.
“It would be unwise to tell your own voters to pound sand,” Hay said.
“No amount of gaslighting by the Biden campaign can make voters forget the bloodbath Biden brought to the nation,” Trump campaign spokesman Stephen Chan said in a statement to Fox News Digital. .
“Biden is hemorrhaging support from black voters, Hispanic voters, and just about every other base because of his disastrous policies and failures in his presidency, while President Trump’s support continues to grow.” he added.
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Marlis Popma, a prominent Iowa Republican operative who endorsed Haley in the Iowa caucuses, said she doesn’t think Haley’s supporters will be discouraged by President Trump’s lack of outreach. Because once the real reality kicks in,” people are “going to say, ‘I’m going to vote for Trump.’ Because his policy is correct. ”
President Biden faces low approval ratings ahead of the election. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
Levine said she can’t imagine the Republicans who supported Haley will choose Biden in November. “I don’t see how Nikki Haley voters can go from Nikki Haley to Joe Biden,” he said. “Everything Nikki Haley stands for, Joe Biden is against.”
But Republican strategist David Kochel, a former adviser to Mitt Romney, offered a different prediction: “I think the vast majority will either not vote in the presidential election or vote for Biden or a third party.”
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Gunner Lamar, political director of the Republican Accountability PAC, said, referring to Levine, that it was “disappointing” to see “members of the Republican elite” shrinking back and supporting Trump. It’s not surprising.”
Mr. Roemer’s organization recently launched a series of anti-Trump ads in swing states in the Midwest in an effort to prevent him from winning a second term.
Get the latest on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more with Fox News Digital’s Election Hub.
