Ah?
Right now?
The presumption IS that the nominee WILL be ex-President Donald Trump ….
There IS a GOOD chance that HE COULD be a convicted FELON……
Support a possible CROOK running for the American Presidency?
I do NOT think this order is gonna stick…..
Top Republican Party officials have a message for any candidate worried about signing a loyalty pledge to potentially support a convicted felon: There’s the door.
Despite at least one candidate expressing concerns about the Republican National Committee’s requirement that they support the eventual nominee in order to qualify for the debate stage this summer, the committee said there will be no changes to its protocols.
In light of Donald Trump’s indictment for his handling of classified documents, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s campaign on Wednesday requested a meeting with RNC officials about amending the loyalty pledge, according to two people with knowledge of the conversation granted anonymity to speak candidly about a private conversation.
Members of RNC leadership arranged a call with Hutchinson on Thursday, but the former governor himself did not take part in the conversation, only a staff member. During the brief call, RNC leaders declined to make any changes to debate requirements and told the staffer the committee is “not dealing with hypotheticals” on Trump’s legal fate. One of the individuals with knowledge of the call described it as “contentious.”
In a statement, RNC senior adviser Richard Walters said the GOP primary candidates are only “being asked to respect the decision of Republican primary voters and support the eventual nominee.”….
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POLITICO reached out to the other declared candidates, but none said they wanted the RNC to amend the loyalty pledge. A spokesperson for former Vice President Mike Pence’s team did not immediately dismiss Hutchinson’s proposal, but said: “We want President Trump on the debate stage, because we think this would be a good contrast for us.”
A spokesperson for Chris Christie’s campaign, meanwhile, said the former New Jersey governor has been “pretty clear on his thoughts around the pledge and any future support for Trump — conviction or not.”
Repeatedly this year, Christie has said he will not support Trump if he is the nominee. Last week Christie said he would sign the RNC’s pledge in order to debate, but would only take it “as seriously as Donald Trump did eight years ago.” Trump in the 2016 election signed a similar pledge, but later said he would not necessarily commit to supporting someone else as the nominee. Asked about such a pledge this spring, Trump would not promise to back the eventual nominee for 2024.