Republican Party primaries | The multiplication of candidates, an advantage for Donald Trump

(Washington) Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum… three Republicans are preparing to launch this week in the race for the White House, joining a field of candidates increasingly provided on the right – which could favor Donald Trump .

Unlike 2016, when the billionaire had caused amazement by winning the Republican nomination, then the election, the former president this time is surfing at the top of the voting intentions from the start.

But the logic remains the same: a Republican primary with a dozen candidates, all anxious to block the way to the septuagenarian, may ultimately lead to a dispersion of votes, in favor of the former reality TV star.

“Putin’s Puppet”

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, an unsuccessful candidate in 2016, is expected to descend into the arena on Tuesday.

Former adviser to Donald Trump, the sexagenarian cut ties after the assault on the Capitol. And seems to want to make attacks against Donald Trump, which some are reluctant to launch at the risk of offending his base, his trademark.

“It’s Putin’s puppet”, launched Chris Christie after very ambiguous remarks by Donald Trump on the war in Ukraine. He also does not hesitate to mock the former president, recently indicted, for his numerous affairs.

“By attacking Trump relentlessly, Christie’s campaign will surely attract a lot of media coverage, which could work for him,” said John Ellis, an expert in American politics, to AFP.

Chris Christie also suggested that the former president might be “afraid” to debate with some of his Republican opponents.

The first of these exchanges was scheduled for August 23, in Wisconsin.

“The crazier we are”

On Wednesday, the ranks of contenders for the Republican nomination are expected to grow further with the entry into the running of Donald Trump’s former vice-president, Mike Pence.

Evangelical Christian, fierce opponent of abortion, Mike Pence had helped Donald Trump conquer the religious right by being his running mate during the 2016 presidential campaign.

After years of unwavering loyalty, he changed his tune because of the assault on the Capitol, which rocked American democracy on January 6, 2021.

The break between the two men jeopardizes the chances of Mike Pence, whom many activists loyal to Donald Trump continue to consider a “traitor”.

To all these candidacies should be added that of the governor of North Dakota, Doug Burgum, very little known in the country. All to the delight of Donald Trump.

“The crazier we are, the merrier,” he said on Fox News after the entry into the race of the only female Republican candidate, Nikki Haley.

Mike Pence’s campaign launch is less likely to interfere with the former president’s candidacy than that of Ron DeSantis, currently second in the polls after Donald Trump.

Like the former vice-president, the 44-year-old governor is also betting on a very conservative, albeit more offensive, speech.

Foil the predictions?

Donald Trump’s main rival, Ron DeSantis hopes to thwart the predictions.

According to observers, he is banking on the fact that the former president will finally be put out of business by the multiplication of legal threats against him.

The strategy essentially consists of coaxing the many supporters of Donald Trump by avoiding criticizing him too frontally – until the 76-year-old ex-leader is forced to withdraw from the race.

A bold bet. The tribune, whose fall has been announced a thousand times, has so far survived all the scandals. As if, by dint of accumulation, they no longer had any effect on his popularity.

“Republican primary contenders can do their best, but if rape accusations (and the Capitol storming) haven’t swayed Trump’s base, neither will these candidates.” , predicted to AFP the Democratic strategist Amani Wells-Onyioha.