Haley Campaign Press Release - WSJ: The 2024 Republican Choice

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Wall Street Journal editorial board lays out the stark choice facing Republican primary voters tomorrow and in the coming weeks and the questions they should ask themselves.

• Can Trump win the general election with indictments and court cases weighing him down?
• If he wins, can Trump deliver on his promises as a lame duck president, no mandate, and an increasingly divided country?
• With Trump on the ticket, will Republicans hold onto its razor thin majority in the House or will they lose it to Hakeem Jeffries?
• Will an ideologically incoherent Trump administration be able to deliver on any of its promises?
• With Trump in the White House, will Republicans be able to ward off a likely electoral wipeout in 2026?

Read an excerpt below or the entire editorial here.

The 2024 Republican Choice
A second, chaotic Trump term, or a new conservative beginning?

Start with the fact that Mr. Trump would be an immediate lame duck. He can’t serve more than one more term, and if he does win it will be narrowly with little political capital. He has never reached an approval rating above 50%, and his rolling seven-week RealClearPolitics average favorability is 41.5%. If there’s a strong third-party ticket, he might win with the smallest plurality since 1912. Mr. Trump would lack the most potent presidential power—the ability to persuade.

Republicans are favored to win a Senate majority, albeit narrowly. But the House is up for grabs and could easily go Democratic. If the first term is a guide, Democrats will oppose anything Mr. Trump proposes that isn’t one of their priorities. Mr. Trump could use executive power to repeal Mr. Biden’s regulations and appoint judges. He could approve drilling for domestic energy in particular. But if Democrats control either house of Congress, conservative legislative priorities would be dead on arrival.