Youngkin praises potential rivals as he considers presidential bid
Cami Mondeaux
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As Glenn Youngkin considers a presidential bid, the Virginia governor is taking on a vastly different approach than that of his possible rivals: showering them with praise.
The GOP presidential primary is expected to grow more crowded over the coming months as prospective candidates throw their hats in the ring. However, early polling suggests that former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be the two frontrunners fighting for the nomination — and Youngkin’s strategy, should he choose to run, seems to be to kill them with kindness.
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“[DeSantis has] done a great job,” Youngkin told Politico. “If you look at Florida, he’s done a great job.”
When asked about Trump, who has been more aggressive in attacking his political opponents, Youngkin lauded the former president’s policies as “extremely good.”
“Things like manufacturing in America, and standing strong on the international stage, and bringing down taxes in order to fuel economic growth” were Trump’s strong suits, he told the outlet.
Youngkin did offer some criticism of Trump’s time in the Oval Office, noting there are things he would’ve done differently.
“Well, I think what you say and how you say it,” Youngkin said. “I think there is a chance to disagree with people without being disagreeable. I don’t call people names. [Avoiding insults] is just one of the things I believe is appropriate. We just have different styles.”
The comments from the first-term governor come as Youngkin privately considers launching his own bid for the White House, building on the national prominence he was able to attain when running in 2021. During that campaign, Youngkin was able to secure the support of Trump while also distancing himself far enough from the former president to win over all corners of the GOP.
Youngkin credited his win to courting voters from all across the ideological spectrum, something he said would be crucial to a prospective 2024 campaign.
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“What I’d seen in Virginia, and I think I see this across the nation, is we in fact have to bring people into the Republican Party, we have to be additive, not [rely on] subtraction, and we can’t win otherwise,” he told Politico.
Should he choose to run, however, Youngkin would face an uphill battle against Trump and DeSantis, who both benefit from national recognition and party prominence. So far, Youngkin has barely made a dent in the polls, registering only 1% of the vote compared to Trump and DeSantis who garnered 52% and 26% of the vote, respectively, according to polling from Morning Consult.