With a nearly 90% approval rating among Republicans, President Trump’s dominance of the party is beyond question. But that doesn’t mean some of the lingering #NeverTrumpers who tried, and failed, to stop him in 2016 won’t give their Quixotic quest one last go.
John Kasich, long considered the most likely candidate to challenge Trump for the 2020 nomination, has already admitted that “I can’t beat him”, and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, another credible challenger from what’s left of the party’s moderate wing, has ruled out a run. But apparently Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, best known nationally for being Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson’s running mate in 2016, thinks he has a shot to best Trump in the Republican primary.
The former governor announced on Monday that he plans to challenge Trump, whose campaign has already raised $30 million for his reelection run, dwarfing the sums raised by even the most popular Democratic challengers, for the 2020 nomination.
For those who are asking themselves ‘who is Weld, exactly?’, here are some facts about the former governor courtesy of Axios:
Current position: Partner at Mintz Levin law firm, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, associate member of the InterAction Council
Age: 73
Born: Smithtown, New York
Undergraduate: Harvard University
Date candidacy announced: April 15, 2019
Previous roles: Governor of Massachusetts (1991-1997), U.S. assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division (1986-1988), U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts (1981-1986)
A recent FiveThirtyEight piece described Weld as potentially “one of the weakest candidates that anti-Trump Republicans could put up in a national campaign.”
He tends to be liberal on social issues and moderate on issues like immigration and climate change, while being fiscally conservative. And as if this resume didn’t virtually guarantee that he will get laughed out of the convention…
Abortion: Weld supports abortion rights and has fought to protect them. As governor in 1991, he introduced a bill aiming to make it easier to get an abortion in Massachusetts.
Same-sex marriage: While governor, Weld recognized domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples and signed legislation protecting gay and lesbian students. He also signed a 2013 amicus brief in support of same-sex marriage.
Marijuana: Weld sits on the board of directors of Acreage Holdings, a cannabis company looking to roll back federal regulations, the Washington Post reports. He has supported legalization of medical marijuana since 199.
Economy: Despite his more progressive social views, Weld is a traditional conservative when it comes to the economy, prioritizing cutting spending and cutting taxes.
Climate change: Weld supports rejoining the Paris climate agreement, according to Boston.com.
…his decision to endorse Barack Obama over John McCain in 2008 will.
via ZeroHedge News http://bit.ly/2Gpk37z Tyler Durden