Originally Posted by
The Great Zaganza
Running for nomination is an occupation for Republicans: it's not about winning, it's about getting free airtime and attracting the notice of Big Donors. Candidates regularly make good money campaigning even if they never get past 1% votes or so.
So there will be plenty of Republicans pretending to clamor for the nomination, even though none will have a chance if Trump is still around by then and decides to run.
Sure, but those are professional candidates, who never expect to win the nomination, much less the Presidency.
Puppycow was asking about "serious challengers" not serial candidates. I think that if you're a GOP member with serious ambition to become President then if Trump is running in 2020 and he still has 80% approval rating among GOP supporters then I don't think someone who has legitimate ambitions to be President should challenge him in the primaries.