MANCHESTER, NH — Republicans are quickly getting behind former President Donald Trump’s bid to return to the White House, pointing to a growing consensus that his candidacy is inevitable.
The brightest example: Sen. Tim Scott, RS.C., would be Trump’s third former opponent. He campaigned for a week, joining North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. approves at a Friday rally here just four days before the New Hampshire primary.
But before it’s too late, there could be a shift in the ranks of lawmakers and donors who are scrambling to put themselves on Trump’s good side.
“There’s going to be a lot of people on planes to Mar-a-Lago in the next couple of weeks,” said one former Trump campaign official who is in close contact with donors and elected officials. Planned visits to Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida, home. “A lot of people try to make sure they kiss the ring in the right time frame.”
For a growing number, that time is now.
Brad Todd, a Republican strategist who does not work for the presidential campaign, attributed the surge in support for Trump to two main factors: Trump’s job and his operation, including top aides Susie Wiles, Chris LaCivita and Brian Jack – gained sympathy and realized that the former president was on the verge of closing his third consecutive candidacy.
“Everybody feels that approval is only helping them now,” Todd said. “They want to do it when it adds value, as opposed to when it’s meaningless. After South Carolina, it’s going to be meaningless for him to win New Hampshire.”
Members of Congress decided long ago that the cost of openly moving against Trump wasn’t worth it: His 2024 challengers haven’t garnered new congressional approval since June.
Suffolk University/Boston Globe/NBC-10 The survey was released on Friday In New Hampshire, Trump is followed by 52 percent, Haley by 35 percent and DeSantis by 6 percent. This is consistent with previous iterations of the “follow” request, which is updated daily. There is no one who is not in office Republicans won both Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary in same year.
With Scott’s support, Trump now has the endorsement of both of South Carolina’s senators, Gov. Henry McMaster and three of the state’s six Republican members of the House of Representatives. Haley, the former governor of the state, is the only member of the South Carolina Congress, Rep. Ralph Norman.
Overall, Trump now has the support of more than half of Republicans in Congress, according to NBC News tracking his endorsements. Members of Congress decided long ago that the cost of openly moving against Trump wasn’t worth it: His 2024 challengers haven’t garnered new congressional approval since late June.
In addition to Trump’s campaign staff, which has long targeted specific state delegations as a show of force, Elise Stefanik, chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, who has been mentioned as a potential vice president for Trump, is lobbying lawmakers to support them, according to a former pundit. A Trump White House official is familiar with the effort.
“What motivates President Trump? More than anything, it’s loyalty,” said a former White House official. “Stefanik understands that and is strategic… He knows what he’s doing.”
Alex DeGrasse, a Stefanik adviser, confirmed the effort in a statement to NBC News, noting that he had endorsed Trump before he officially launched his campaign in November 2022.
“[S]he worked to encourage all of his colleagues to do so last year!” DeGrasse said. “It’s great to see the overwhelming support for President Trump throughout the House Republican Conference, which shows strong momentum at this important time.”
One CEO, who spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity, said he was laying the groundwork for Trump’s team from a rival to portray his views candidly.
“I have a choice, if I want to be in the tent, I have to go back to Trump,” he said, noting that people in Trump’s orbit have been in semi-regular contact with him since 2011. to fall
The donor has made it clear that people in Trump’s orbit have contacted him semi-regularly since the fall and that his support would be welcome.
“So for me, that means calling Don Jr. and allows his crow. That means setting up a date at Mar-a-Lago, which I did,” he said. “This means that people I know call the president – the former president, the future president – and say good things about me. “
The CEO said the hoops course required him to be seen “flying on social media”.
Trump’s interactions with top donors and elected officials have been consistent for more than a year and have involved more light touches than arm-twisting — often with the president, his family members or top aides. contacts in political circles, calling on people with personal connections — according to people familiar with the approach.
A former campaign official said the political elites are smart enough to know the potential consequences of overstepping Trump without being told.
A Trump aide familiar with the effort said approvals flow naturally at this point without pressure being applied.
“We don’t need it,” said the aide. “They all come to us.”