RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Glenn Youngkin was waving off discuss operating for the White Home again in 2021, earlier than he’d even made it to the Virginia governor’s mansion.
Brad Hobbs, a childhood buddy, advised The Related Press on the time that his final aim was to see the Harvard-educated Republican businessman run for president. Hobbs mentioned he introduced it up nonstop, even in entrance of others, which irked Youngkin.
“He doesn’t decide to that. He seems at me like, ‘Cease saying it; I don’t need to hear that,’” Hobbs mentioned.
Conjecture that Youngkin, who is ready to host a significant donor retreat Tuesday and Wednesday, may make a late entry into the 2024 presidential race has solely grown since his victory almost two years in the past. It might additional escalate after subsequent month’s high-stakes legislative elections, the place he’s aiming for a GOP sweep.
No less than a number of the current speak is coming from Republican donors nonetheless casting about for yet one more various to former President Donald Trump.
However the 56-year-old Youngkin, who in public remarks has demurred however not completely shut the door to a bid, would face logistical marketing campaign difficulties, poll entry hurdles and — in response to interviews across the nation over the previous week — skepticism from some Republican voters, who both don’t know him effectively or are locked in on Trump.
“I believe it’s ill-conceived and a extremely horrible thought,” Eric Levine, a New York-based lawyer and Republican donor who has urged his occasion to again somebody aside from Trump, mentioned of a possible Youngkin candidacy. “It’s doomed to failure and can solely injury his model.”
Youngkin, who solutions questions on his presidential prospects by saying he’s flattered to be within the dialog however centered on Virginia, is at present within the midst of the hectic closing push to the state’s Nov. 7 election, with early voting already underway.
Each seat within the Common Meeting is on the poll, and each events see a doable path to a legislative majority in a state that as soon as appeared destined to maneuver from purple to blue however now hangs within the steadiness. If Republicans handle to carry the Home of Delegates and flip the Senate, that might give Youngkin broad leeway to enact extra of what he calls his widespread sense conservative priorities — together with further tax cuts, new limits on abortion and a rollback of unpolluted power mandates — over the ultimate two years of his time within the governor’s mansion. Virginia uniquely prohibits its chief executives from serving consecutive phrases.
Youngkin, recognized for his folksy, high-energy model, launched a significant early voting push this cycle, shattered earlier governors’ fundraising information, campaigned with candidates and is within the weeds on the specifics of battleground races, in response to his advisers.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Youngkin and his spouse, Suzanne Youngkin, will host a second annual “Pink Vest Retreat,” a nod to the governor’s signature marketing campaign apparel, at a sublime resort in Virginia Seaside, in response to an invite obtained by the AP. Particulars of the retreat had been first reported in The Washington Post.
“Clearly there are a number of people which might be encouraging him … who like what he has performed in Virginia, what he’s been in a position to accomplish, and would like to have him try this on the nationwide stage. However once more, his focus goes to proceed to be on Virginia and these elections,” mentioned Dave Rexrode, a senior adviser to Youngkin, in an interview.
The retreat is for people who’re monetary supporters of the governor’s Spirit of Virginia PAC, mentioned Rexrode, who’s chairman of the group. No presidential candidates had been invited, and Rexrode declined to share particulars of the agenda forward of the occasion.
The hypothesis round a Youngkin run has been pushed not solely by his upstart win but in addition his journey across the nation, frequent conservative media appearances, highly-produced public occasions, record-breaking fundraising and his refusal to close down the prospect.
Ought to he resolve to make the leap after subsequent month’s elections, a possible marketing campaign would face vital logistical hurdles.
With lower than 100 days till voting begins with Iowa’s leadoff caucuses, Youngkin doesn’t have the sort of marketing campaign group {that a} presidential hopeful must recruit supporters for caucuses or get voters to prove in January. Many of the presidential campaigns have been organizing since early 2023. Trump additionally has huge identify recognition, years of organizing expertise and established supporters nationwide.
Earlier than Youngkin might even fear about turning out supporters, he’d be up towards essential deadlines.
Whereas there’s no deadline to turn out to be a candidate for Iowa’s caucuses, competing there takes months of securing supporters who will agree to indicate up at a sure time and place. The deadline to file for the second contest, New Hampshire’s main, is Oct. 27. Different states’ deadlines begin rolling in quickly after, with Alabama and Arkansas requiring candidates to gather signatures from voters and file their candidacy days after this November’s election.
His former high marketing campaign strategists are additionally at present engaged on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential marketing campaign, although Rexrode and others working for Youngkin’s PAC have years of nationwide political expertise.
Individuals in Trump’s orbit have been publicly dismissive of a possible Youngkin candidacy and are fast to lump his potential late entry in with a number of the supposed Trump options already within the race, together with different distinguished officeholders similar to DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.
Requested for remark, Trump marketing campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded: “That should actually suck for Ron DeSantis.”
Republican and impartial voters across the nation who spoke with the AP additionally voiced skepticism about Youngkin’s potential affect on the race.
Renate Plitzko, an impartial voter from Dover, New Hampshire, mentioned she’s in search of a candidate who can enhance the economic system. She mentioned Youngkin ought to get in if he desires to.
However is she accustomed to him?
“No, in no way,” she mentioned Friday at a New Hampshire Republican Social gathering summit.
A number of different voters there mentioned they had been accustomed to Youngkin and praised the job he’s performed however mentioned he shouldn’t run.
In Virginia, Republican voters and legislators praised his efficiency as governor thus far, however many mentioned they need Youngkin to complete the job he signed up for.
“It’s too quickly for him,” mentioned Margaret Garland, a 77-year-old Trump supporter, in an interview at an early voting web site in Stafford County. “Let him get some extra expertise as governor.”
However Hobbs, the childhood buddy and a self-described average, mentioned he’s extra satisfied than ever {that a} divided nation wants the unity and contemporary management he thinks Youngkin might provide. Hobbs, who deliberate to attend the retreat, mentioned he’s “overextended” himself making an attempt to push Youngkin in, however thinks the governor has given it actual thought.
In the end, although, he isn’t certain what Youngkin will do.
“Will he announce?” Hobbs mentioned. “I don’t know.”
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Worth reported from New York. AP writers Matthew Barakat in Stafford County and Holly Ramer in Nashua, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.