Obscure GOP Also-Rans Never Get Anywhere

Charlie, one thing we can say for certain about this ongoing GOP presidential primary is that any candidate who began his campaign as a relatively obscure political figure in Republican circles . . . hasn’t gotten very far in building support in the polls. If you started as a longshot candidate, several months of campaigning in all the early primary states and two debates have left you . . . still a longshot candidate.

Maybe, if you squint, you can argue Vivek Ramaswamy has grown from a complete unknown to a guy in the mid single digits nationally. Nikki Haley is polling a bit better than a few months ago. Ron DeSantis remains a distant second, but still ahead of everyone else, at least nationally and in Iowa and South Carolina.

About the Author

Jim Geraghty

Jim Geraghty is the senior political correspondent of National Review.

Charlie, one thing we can say for certain about this ongoing GOP presidential primary is that any candidate who began his campaign as a relatively obscure political figure in Republican circles . . . hasn’t gotten very far in building support in the polls. If you started as a longshot candidate, several months of campaigning in all the early primary states and two debates have left you . . . still a longshot candidate.

Maybe, if you squint, you can argue Vivek Ramaswamy has grown from a complete unknown to a guy in the mid single digits nationally. Nikki Haley is polling a bit better than a few months ago. Ron DeSantis remains a distant second, but still ahead of everyone else, at least nationally and in Iowa and South Carolina.