Ryan would be a formidable opponent, but I think he hurt himself with the massive debt and deficit increases.
I still think either Kasich or Huntsman would be a better bet to knock Trump out.
Eh, I think Kaisch has the inverse issue that Trump has; absolutely has burnt the bridge with the other side of the base, and has acted in a distasteful and problematic way for those in the middle of the two sides which, which is who the ultimate swing voters will be in a republican primary.
For many, "Never Trump" zealots like Kaisch aren't much better than "MAGA" zealots, just the opposite side of the same unthinking, idiotic coin. No actual principles, no actual pragmatism, no actual desire to form consensus or actually listen to everyone...just a desire to mindlessly scream the same tired cliches and propaganda at all times in the name of the message and crusade, to he'll with anything but that.
I would've voted for Kaisch in 2016 if he was my only other option. In 2020, I'd write in a different name or go with a lesser candidate likely. And I think theres a number of Republicans out there like me, those who don't particularly like or want Trump, but don't see the moronic "RESIST" types who obstinently and often dishonesty oppose and attack anything and everything related to Trump even if at times it means embracing non republican or conservative ideals simply because it would harm Trump.
That's part of why I think Ryan has the potential. Why his opposition at times with Trump will make him no friends with the MAGA crowd, those are unwinnable anyways. However, unlike someone like Kaisch, he can show he actually did make attempts to make the Trump presidency successful and to make some progress on some of the more popular aspects that he was elected for as best he could. Which shows an actual willingness to be pragmatic, to work with ALL sides within the party, and to listen to a very substantial part of the countries desires. At the same time, he can show enough instances of resistance or measures he reigned in to provide a legitimate alternative candidate for those who are deciding my anti Trump.
And, of all the likely candidates, he's likely to have the most established infrastructure to set up a ground game due to the multitude of favors he'll have to call in all across the country due to his robust assisting in house campaigns all over.
You won't find a person on this forum that was a more outspoken and large can of Huntsman, but I think his best chance was 2012 when he was the ideal candidate to run against Obama and then he torpedoed his own candidacy by running arguably the most idioticly bad primary campaign I have ever witnessed. I just don't see any real likely chance he could successfully oppose an incumbent Trump. I'd love to cast a vote from him, but from a political science perspective I can not fathom a realistic avenue leading to a win for him.
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