The financial re-orientation to Trump comes less than 60 days before the first primary election. Since Trump announced his candidacy, big money donors flocked to other candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who were seen among some within the Republican apparatus as being more “electable” than Trump. Early polling showed Trump consistently trailing President Joe Biden in a hypothetical matchup, a trend that continued throughout the first half of 2023. In recent weeks, poll after poll has shown Trump has a respectable lead over Biden—including a 10-point lead in a new Post-ABC poll—as Democratic strategists and columnists warn of imminent doom if Democrats don’t course correct. A Nov. 26 op-ed in USA Today entitled “Earth to Democrats: Biden presidency is a dumpster fire. How many warning signs do you need?” suggests further concern about the viability of a 2024 win. Trump also holds around a 50-point lead over Republican primary challengers, leaving many accepting he is the presumptive nominee. “While Trump may have not been some Republicans' first choice for 2024, many are coming back on board because the risk of Joe Biden being a two-term president is just too high,” Charlie Kolean, a GOP strategist who raises money for the Trump campaign, told ABC News. "His lead in the polls is unparalleled and barring any legal action, there is nothing politically that could stop him from becoming the nominee," Kolean added. Other Republican donors who had reservations about Trump following the issues surrounding the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, and Trump facing 91 charges in multiple indictments, are now returning in support of him. Bernie Marcus, a co-founder of mega-retailer Home Depot who donated $16,000 to Haley this spring, recently wrote an op-ed with a surprising endorsement, telling Republicans to accept that Trump will be the nominee and work to ensure he wins the general election. Marcus explained:Top GOP donors who sought to move on from former President Donald Trump and find a different candidate to back in the 2024 presidential election are now returning to him.
For Democrats, the choice is simple. If you feel that you are better off now than you were three years ago, you should vote for Joe Biden or whoever is the Democrat candidate. For Republicans, the choice is also simple. Let’s face it: Donald Trump is going to win the nomination. You should be doing all you can to ensure his winning the general election. I understand the frustration of some of my Republican friends who do not like or are offended by things Donald Trump does and says. I, too, have been frustrated at times, but we cannot let his brash style be the reason we walk away from his otherwise excellent stewardship of the United States during his first term in office. Now is the time for unity to save The American Dream for future generations. Harold Hamm, an oil and gas mogul who called on Trump to exit the race this summer, donated $16,000 to Haley and $6,600 to DeSantis after they announced their candidacies. But, last month, Hamm met with the former president at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida and presented a $200,000 check for a pro-Trump super PAC, the Washington Post reported. Dan Eberhart, a GOP donor who supports and raises money for DeSantis but had previously supported Trump, wasn't surprised, according to ABC. "He's saying the quiet part out loud," Eberhart said, describing his own thoughts on Hamm's moves. "Even for the people that don't really prefer Trump, it's about time to come home, rally around Trump, and he recognizes that."
