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The heat is rising in the preliminary phases of the Republican presidential race, where aspirants are largely concentrating on early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire. However, the Governor of Florida is slated to address around 1,500 dedicated Republicans at an event in Nashville’s Music City Center.
The frontrunner, Trump, alongside contender DeSantis, are not disregarding early primary states. They have kept up an intensive campaign trail in the past weeks, addressing crowds through rallies in South Carolina, in addition to Iowa and New Hampshire.
Interestingly, Trump and DeSantis display an intense drive to solidify their influence in states like Tennessee and Alabama, which will hold elections come Super Tuesday. During this decisive day, a bulk of the delegate votes critical to victory are up for snatching; the most accumulated during any single day in the preliminaries.
Only the formidable pair, Trump and DeSantis, who have amassed remarkable campaign financing, seem to have the capacity to effectively extend their influence beyond the early states.
The preference of GOP leaders for this strategy is based on the knowledge that a firm standing in states beyond the initial primary venues could contribute to overall success.
As part of the campaign momentum, Super Tuesday holds a distinct prestige, marked with a bold underline on every GOP candidate’s calendar – on March 5, next year. The results on this day can make or break a hopeful’s campaign journey.
The string of about 14 primaries, which take place shortly after the initial contests, cover a vast geographic spread from the diverse coastlines of California and Texas to the eastern ends of Massachusetts and Maine.
It is a day that puts each campaign’s organizational prowess, financial muscle, and the potential to amass delegate votes under scrutiny. In this cycle, Trump and DeSantis seem to be working diligently to secure crucial backing in the Super Tuesday states, expand their staff, and rally support.
Starting their preparations early is a testament to the candidates’ self-belief that they will be in the race come March, a time when the competition will have lessened significantly.
Current public opinion polls depict Trump in the leading position, followed closely by DeSantis, with a considerable gap to the rest of the hopefuls. These include prominent names like former VP Mike Pence, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
However, concentrating on the Super Tuesday states does not automatically ensure a winning ticket.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg experienced this in the 2020 Democratic presidential race when, after missing the early contests, his Super Tuesday strategy did not yield the desired success. Despite investing massive resources – more than $500 million – Bloomberg lagged behind Biden in scooping delegate votes.
Despite that, Trump and DeSantis have not solely focused on Super Tuesday states. Other candidates such as the former Arkansas Governor, Asa Hutchinson, and Nikki Haley have extended their reach, visiting states like California and Texas. However, their campaigns have maintained a distinct focus on the initial primary states.
Some candidates like Pence, with deep evangelical roots, have targeted their campaigns in states like Iowa where a significant slice of GOP primary voters identifies with this religious group.
Christie, counting on independent-minded voters in New Hampshire, has run a strong anti-Trump campaign, while Haley and Scott see a promising stronghold in their home state – South Carolina. This state conducts its elections ten days before Super Tuesday.
But the financial capability of Trump and DeSantis allows them to run an expansive campaign. Trump’s campaign reports a fund of over $35 million has been raked in the second quarter of the year, while DeSantis claims to have raised $20 million in a short 6 weeks after announcing his candidature.
Trump’s prior experience running and winning political races bestows him with a significant edge. His incessant campaigning spree even after the 2020 loss showcases this advantage. In 2021, he conducted a rally in Alabama, purportedly attracting around 50,000 attendees.
Modern interpretations of conservatism show that places like Alabama resonate with the principles that underpin the Republican Party. The state has a unique connection with Trump, as the Alabama GOP Chairman, John Wahl outlined, citing Trump’s convincing wins in the GOP primary and the general elections in 2016 and 2020.
The Super PAC supporting DeSantis – ‘Never Back Down’ – is steadily making strides. It has plans to sink $100 million into grassroots operations targeting the first 18 states, including the Super Tuesday states.
The endorsement and campaign efforts led by the Florida Governor are in full swing, intending to have 2,600 personnel advocating for him by Labor Day.
The commitment and exclusiveness of their efforts were highlighted by spokesperson Erin Perrine, ‘Nobody else is doing what we’re doing at this point.’ One of DeSantis’ most notable endorsements came from Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, who joined him for a rally in Tulsa that left some of Trump’s allies in Oklahoma disgruntled.
However, the Oklahoma state party’s neutrality doesn’t truly reflect the predominant trend among residents, with the prevalence of ‘Veterans for Trump’ banners indicating a popular tilt towards the ex-president.
Nathan Dahm, the state party’s chairman, suggests that the Super Tuesday showdowns could be an opportunity for a candidate to regain lost ground or correct a stumble from the earlier stages.
Endorsing a far-sighted campaign strategy, Dahm indicates that candidate missteps could be corrected or compensated for, as dynamics can change unexpectedly.
States like Oklahoma, in his view, should be an essential part of a strategic, comprehensive, and long-term game plan. This strategy underlines how significant planning can be when vying for the Republican nomination.