BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) After the midterms, there is no denying that The Trump factor is huge for the Republican party going forward.
"If you go to Fox News, or the New York Post, or Wall Street Journal editorial
pages, they're calling former President Donald Trump a loser," said Dave Levinthal, Deputy Washington Bureau Chief for Business Insider.
"They're saying that Donald Trump has not been able to deliver when it comes
to elections in 2018, 2020 and now 2022."
Observers are speculating whether the former President will still commit to the big announcement he promised at an election rally a few days ago, or hold off announcing a 2024 presidential run - as pushed by some advisers.
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"Some are saying hey, tap the brakes," added Levinthal. "The Republican party is definitely having an intramural conversation right now to say the least."
Democrats have been publicly vocal about whether President Joe Biden should run again, or not. An opinion piece in Thursday's New York Times suggests that, clinically, the GOP should be rallying around Ron DeSantis. But a conversation about moving on from Trump is not happening.
"Republicans aren't comfortable with that kind of public discussion," said Republican strategist Carl Calabrese on WBEN Thursday. "It's happening privately and it is starting to bubble up in conservative journals."
Calabrese said some are starting to say it's time. "Look, you (Trump) won the presidency, you implemented a great agenda, but it's time to recognize that when you run for office, you ignite a passion on the left that is unprecedented. The party," he added, "is definitely in an interesting position
right now."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis breezed to re-election on Tuesday, obliterating Charlie Crist. DeSantis is 44 years old, with a young family, and seems to be riding a wave of success. Donald Trump's mystique is based on winning, and there hasn't been a lot of that lately.
"Make no mistake, Trump is still wildly popular in the Republican party, but we're reaching a moment when people are discovering other potential options," noted Levinthal.
He mentioned one name that is not being talked about very much. "Keep an eye on Tim Scott. A Republican senator from South Carolina who is a very compelling political figure. A lot quieter than Trump or DeSantis, but his jump to a national platform could be there for the taking in the next year."
