At a recent political gathering, I had the pleasure of seeing a well-respected veteran New York Republican. Naturally, I asked him for his thoughts on the upcoming GOP presidential primary. Without hesitation, he confidently replied, “Youngkin!” He was referring to Glenn Youngkin, the current governor of Virginia who had only been in office for a brief period after defeating Democrat Terry McAuliffe.
Curiously, this conversation took place several months before the chaotic GOP primary debates unfolded, and Youngkin has yet to make an official declaration. In a recent interview with Fox News, he emphasized his focus on flipping Virginia’s legislature to a Republican majority in the November general election. This would be quite a notable accomplishment considering the state’s recent blue or purple leaning tendencies.
These events reminded me of a fascinating article in The Washington Post by CBS political correspondent Robert Costa. The article explored the fascination with Youngkin among billionaire Republican donors and former Trump supporters like William Barr and John Bolton, who are desperately trying to rewrite their political legacies.
Costa highlighted the fact that we have seen similar situations before, such as when New York Governor Mario Cuomo considered running for president in 1992 but ultimately prioritized negotiating the state budget. Another example that came to mind was Nelson Rockefeller, a perennial establishment candidate from New York who repeatedly failed to secure his party’s nomination.
Rockefeller’s first attempt at the presidency in 1960 was described as perplexing and filled with misjudgments. Despite being an accomplished governor, his front-runner status quickly faded during the Goldwater revolution in 1964. The abuse he endured at the GOP convention that year, where he warned of an extremist threat within the party, further highlighted the challenges he faced. In 1968, he hoped the party would come to its senses and draft him as their nominee, but Richard Nixon ended up being chosen.
Comparing these historical scenarios to the current draft-Youngkin movement, it’s clear that there are significant differences. Unlike Rockefeller, Youngkin is a first-time candidate in the national arena. He emerged from a successful career at The Carlyle Group and funded his own gubernatorial primary campaign. While Youngkin avoids the baggage that Rockefeller carried, he also lacks the extensive vetting that comes with years in the public eye.
However, perhaps this lack of baggage is part of Youngkin’s appeal. His name itself evokes a sense of youth and unity, reminiscent of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown.” He seems less like a traditional presidential candidate and more like a blank canvas onto which Trump-averse Republicans can project their vision of an ideal and electable nominee.
Time is running out for Youngkin to file for the crucial early primaries. Doing so would require him to participate in the dreaded debates, where his current image as the friendly face of the Trump-agnostic wing of the party would undoubtedly become a target for criticism from all sides.
Realistically, it appears that Youngkin’s best chance at securing the nomination may come through the elimination of other candidates. This scenario would resemble the dramatic prom scene from the horror film “Carrie,” effectively thinning the crowded field and clearing the path for Youngkin to emerge as the victor.
Of course, no one wants to witness such a spectacle unfold live in prime time, except perhaps for Fox News, who seems to thrive on such political theater.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
