Some 2024 Republicans May Try a Late Entry

Tara Palmeri: “Once upon a time, declaring late, in the third wave, was considered a mistake, or the vanity of the uber-wealthy. Trump’s golden elevator descent, in June 2015, was considered late at the time. Mike Bloomberg was humbled after he entered the Democratic primary, in late November 2019, thinking that he could blow past Iowa and New Hampshire and focus on delegates in California and on Super Tuesday contests.”

“This cycle, however, that philosophy may be reversing itself. Conventional wisdom suggests that Trump and DeSantis may bludgeon each other significantly enough to open a new lane that won’t be filled by any of the milquetoast Haley-Pompeo-Pence also-rans, who are barely able to make a noise amid the clatter.”

“And all of this might clear the way for a late entrant dark horse. I’m told from people close to Chris Christie and Rick Scott that they could see late openings for themselves, for different reasons. Glenn Youngkin, with his deep pockets and ability to self-fund, is also being advised to make a later entry. Those advising Youngkin could see him entering the race around the first debate, which could be late July or early August, per smoke signals from the R.N.C., or he could skip the first debate altogether and jump in for the second.”