Noem: Only one presidential candidate has a path to the nomination but saddle up for the presidential election

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem made clear that she is not going to run for president in the 2024 Republican primary. The governor is often asked if she has presidential aspirations. Maybe but she’s holding off this election cycle.

During an interview with KWAT radio, Noem, who won re-election last year, said that neighboring Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota has spoken to her and asked for her endorsement. She said she isn’t going to endorse any of the Republican candidates running for president. There is only one who has a path to primary victory, though, and that is Donald Trump. She acknowledged that it would be interesting for the governors of North Dakota and South Dakota to run at the same time. She said that Burgum is “a good guy” and works hard.

“Wouldn’t that be interesting? If there was South and North Dakota governors running for president? But now, right now, I am so focused on South Dakota,” Noem said.

“He might do well down in Iowa,” she suggested, noting that the first-in-the-nation caucus state is a farmer state, like North Dakota, and that Burgum is “investing a ton of money” into the race.

But when asked if she’ll make an endorsement, Noem flatly declined to do so.

“No, I don’t think so. President Trump is in the race and right now I don’t see a path to victory for anybody else with him in the race and the situation as it sits today,” she said. “But I think people should saddle up — it could be a roller coaster of a presidential race.”

Back in January, Noem said that the person who wins the Republican primary may not be in the race yet. At age 51, there is plenty of time for Noem to run in the future when Trump isn’t running. Clearly, she has a defeatist attitude when it comes to challenging other Republicans if Trump is running. I don’t necessarily blame her but it seems to me that if she is truly concerned about Republicans choosing a candidate who will win in 2024, Trump probably isn’t the best bet. Many Republicans are ready for another candidate to come forward. They expect Trump will win the primary, at least as it looks now, but lose the general election.

Republicans are tired of losing. The only way to stop that and change course is to chose a different candidate. Stop jumping on board with Trump-endorsed candidates who stand little chance to win and this time, choose wisely. We can recognize that Trump’s presidency was successful up until the pandemic began to unravel everything. At 77, though, he is beginning to show his age. I don’t mean like how Joe Biden is dazed and confused every day or frail and feeble but I do mean that Trump is too obsessed with the past and his loss in 2020. He said to Bret Baier that he could win over independent women voters that he lost in 2020 by telling them that he won the 2020 election. Sorry, but that won’t bring in any new voters for Trump or win back those he lost in 2020. As long as no one is bold enough to tell Trump his time is over – except Chris Christie – and actually convince him of that, then he will be the Republican nominee and Biden will be re-elected.

This is why I am ready for the first debate. I want to see all the candidates on a stage together and hear them make their case for the nomination. Let primary voters see the contrast between some of them and Trump. The latest Fox poll released today shows Trump still way ahead of DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy in third place. Trump is at 56%, DeSantis is at 22%, and Ramaswamy is at 5%. Only 13% of Republican primary voters say they would never vote for Trump.

Noem’s acknowledgement that Trump’s path to victory remains clear, at least at this stage, is correct. I think she is right that the presidential election could be a roller coaster. Voters don’t want another match-up between Trump and Biden. However, it looks like that is what we are getting. It’s still early and anything can happen between two candidates, ages 77 and 80. We are in limbo now, waiting to see if another Republican can rise up enough to seriously compete with Trump.