A value free observation: Republicans struggle without Trump somewhere on the ballot. Look across the country in 2024. Nevada is the best example. Trump consistently outperforms other republicans on the ticket. In places like PA, Trump dragged the Senate candidate across the finish line just barely. Trump won in Nevada but Dems won the state elsewhere down the ballot, albeit closer than most expected. Republicans keep losing without Trump because they only have one foot in the MAGA-ish camp and the other trying to be the sterile, neocon party of the past. In many places they try to spend boatloads of cash to primary out the MAGA candidates like in S.C.
It's not going to last, long term. We saw in NY and VA that the dems are on the precipice of being owned by the populist left. The neolib dems are more than happy to appease this group and let the party transition in that direction. And there's a lot of energy behind that. But the republicans keep suppressing their own equivalent populist voices like Tucker Carlson, say what you will about him. If the republicans don't follow up and fully embrace a more national populist message they won't be able to keep up as the boomers die off and more of gen z votes. Young people do not see that Republican party offering them anytthing. Just Israel and tax cuts for rich people. They need to embrace using the big dick of the government and Keynesian economic strategy if they over hope to convert the youth. Their social policies are actually pretty popular across the board (except abortion), so if they outflanked the mainstreams dems on economics before it's too late they might have a chance. But I'm not optimistic about this. AIPAC has the GOP by the balls. Even Trump must pay fealty, and Vance to an extent.
