The kinds of Republicans who could primary Trump
President Trump’s low favorability rating and the ongoing probes into Russian election meddling have ignited speculation that he could be the first sitting president to face a primary challenge since George H.W. Bush beat back conservative firebrand Pat Buchanan in 1992.
Most party strategists say a challenge to the incumbent president from within Trump's orbit is unlikely in 2020.
The blunt-talking commander-in-chief remains popular among Republican voters, and GOP leaders and conservatives on Capitol Hill have largely stood by their controversial standard bearer.
Trump’s camp reacted fiercely to a weekend report in The New York Times that said a shadow campaign is emerging in case the 45th president doesn't run. The Times reported Vice President Pence was among those preparing for the possibility, which was strongly denied by the former Indiana governor and White House aides after the story was published.
Still, in this volatile Trump era, few outside the White House would argue that a Republican challenge to Trump is unforeseeable. If the 2020 GOP primary is contested, Trump would be the clear favorite and would have the Republican National Committee behind him. Yet, such a challenge could weaken Trump before the general election — as it did Bush in 1992 before he lost to Bill Clinton.
Here is a look at how the landscape of potential Trump challengers is shaping up, one that could include senators, past presidential rivals and even celebrities.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/345656-the-five-kinds-of-republicans-who-could-primary-trump
