Kemp and Youngkin attend conservative conference amid whispers of White House bid.

A Glimpse‌ into the Republican Presidential Primary: High-Profile Conservatives ⁢Gather

A slate of high-profile conservative figures⁤ is set to make an appearance at the annual GOP conference this weekend, providing a clearer picture‍ of the⁤ Republican ⁣presidential primary. As candidates strive to distinguish themselves from the rest of the field, this gathering offers them a platform to share their visions with voters. Hosted by radio host Erick Erickson, The Gathering will feature not only the candidates already⁤ running but also a handful of other Republicans who will take the stage.

Notable Speakers

Among the distinguished speakers scheduled‌ for this year’s event are Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) and Governor Glenn​ Youngkin (R-VA). ⁢Both have garnered attention⁤ as potential contenders to ​challenge former President Donald ⁢Trump for the GOP nomination.

“Move Past Trump’s‍ Loss and Focus ⁤on the Future,” Says Governor Kemp

On Friday, Governor Kemp addressed the conference,‍ responding to recent​ news reports⁢ about Trump’s ⁣indictment related to⁣ his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results⁣ in Georgia. He urged Republican ‌voters to look ahead and not dwell‍ on Trump’s loss, cautioning that the party could risk losing the White House next year if it⁤ remains ⁣”distracted” by the ​previous election.

Youngkin’s⁣ Potential Presidential Run Gains Momentum

On Saturday‍ evening, Governor Youngkin will take the stage as the final speaker of the annual gathering. Reports suggest that influential donors have privately encouraged him to consider a presidential run, despite initially ruling it out earlier this year. Youngkin’s appearance follows a series of crucial state⁤ legislative races in November, which may have influenced his reconsideration.

Support and Skepticism

Notable ​billionaires, including Thomas Peterffy, who previously supported Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL),‌ have thrown their weight behind Youngkin’s Spirit of⁣ Virginia PAC.⁣ This support could pose a ‍challenge for DeSantis, who was ​once seen as Trump’s top challenger but has faced setbacks in his own campaign.

However, some donors remain skeptical about the viability of a late entry⁣ into ‍the race, believing that⁢ any candidate would struggle to‍ gain enough momentum to surpass⁣ Trump in the polls. For instance, if⁣ Youngkin decides to wait until after the November election to join the race, he would be excluded from the Nevada primaries due to the filing deadline.

Overcoming Trump’s Dominance

Despite facing 91 felony charges from four separate criminal ⁢indictments, former President Trump continues to dominate early polling in the race. Over half of Republican voters (54.4%) express their support for Trump in the GOP primaries, with Governor​ DeSantis trailing far behind at 15.4%. Other contenders, such as Vivek Ramaswamy,​ former Vice President Mike Pence, and Nikki Haley, have garnered smaller percentages of support.

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