Colo. GOP: Trump or no, Biden will be ‘retired’
Primary field to feature former President as decisive favorite
Amid many national pundits on the political right blamestorming him for midterm losses and a red wave turning into a ripple, Donald Trump announced Tuesday he would run for a third time for the Republican nomination for President.
“In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” he said, opening his campaign.
Trump won election as a political newcomer in 2016, defeating Hillary Clinton. He was defeated in a bid for re-election in 2020 by President Joe Biden, whom he would presumedly meet again in 2024, if Trump can clear the Republican primary field.
There was no escalator ride this time, just a crowd of supporters at Mar-a-lago, where he announced his campaign
in front of more than two dozen American flags.
“America's comeback starts right now,” he said, a week following the midterm elections.
He most certainly had hoped to launch the campaign with voters washing out Democrats in favor of Republicans, and there was some progress made. Republicans will almost certainly take back the U.S. House of Representatives, would need to win a Georgia runoff to take control of the U.S. Senate and hold a slight margin of states with Republican governors.
Trump continues to hold broad popularity with the Republican base and the ability to fundraise like no other. Among his achievements commonly noted by the political right, he finally addressed border security, delivered historical improvements to the economy, supported the 2nd Amendment and religious freedoms of the 1st Amendment, and of importance locally, he supported agriculture and energy independence.
Polls show Trump to have a double-digit lead against all comers in a primary field that could feature him against Florida Gov. Ron Desantis, who is polling at an average of 25% support against Trump's 50%. No other candidate projected to the field holds more than 6% support, including former Vice President Mike Pence.
“Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump actually delivered for the American people,” said Colorado Republican Party Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown. “The Trump Administration cut taxes, nominated constitutional judges, made America energy independent, and worked day and night to secure our southern border.”
The country is in decline under Democrat leadership, Trump said.
“Our country is in a horrible state, we are in grave trouble,” he said. “This is not a task for a politician or a conventional candidate, this is a task for a great movement.”
While Burton Brown called for change in 2024, she left open the opportunity for voters to choose Trump, or someone other than the former President.
“In 2024, Americans will once again look to a Republican president to fix the far-left and costly mistakes of a Democrat Administration,” she said. “I trust Republican voters and believe that our eventual nominee will retire Joe Biden. Our party is filled with talented leaders who would make strong presidents. That's a good problem to have.”
Biden would be age 86 at the end of a second term. Trump would be 82. They were the oldest-ever nominees for president when they ran in 2020. Trump would stand to be the second person to serve two non-consecutive terms as President — Grover Cleveland won election in 1884 and 1892.