In the race for the Republican nomination, the question of whether or not a candidate should drop out if Donald Trump achieves a majority of voters has been raised. Steve Duprey, former chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, believes that if Trump secures over 50% of the votes and a clear majority, it would be difficult for any other candidate to make a case for winning the nomination. Referring to the 2016 election, Duprey remarks on how Trump, being a celebrity with little organizational support nationwide at the time, still managed to win the presidency. However, in 2020, as the incumbent, the Trump campaign demonstrated an impressive level of organization and strategic execution, making it one of the most well-organized presidential primary campaigns in recent history.
When discussing voters who have shown a preference for candidates other than Trump, Duprey points out that it is not necessarily due to their disagreement with Trump's policies. Instead, it is primarily linked to the perceived chaos, turmoil, and constant tweeting associated with his presidency. Duprey suggests that if Trump had responded differently to the events of January 6th, and advocated for a peaceful transfer of power in a calm and traditional manner, his popularity could have remained strong, potentially leading to a significant lead over Joe Biden. Consequently, there may not have been any competition within the Republican primary race.
