Anyone who thought they could take out Trump and get the Republican nomination is delusional.
It might have been possible and not even that hard, just none of them had the balls to do it.
Match Trump 1:1 in being loud, straight forward, and charismatic.
Take all his good positions on topics. Keep his momentum on stuff like criticizing the press.
Go after him for being all talk. "I'll get the border secured instead of talking about how beautiful my wall would be."
Eviscerate him over the vax, his shitty choices in advisors, etc.
Be 15-20 years younger.
Stable, traditional family.
Bonus points if veteran.
You have to match him as a boisterous populist and then hit his weak spots; basically be Trump if Trump were effectual. Only Vivek came close to trying to play it right, everyone else was basically some flavor of trad/neocon we're all familiar with and sick of. I don't think he, personally, stood a chance but it was the right tactics at least.
It might have been possible and not even that hard, just none of them had the balls to do it.
You have to match him as a boisterous populist and then hit his weak spots; basically be Trump if Trump were effectual. Only Vivek came close to trying to play it right, everyone else was basically some flavor of trad/neocon we're all familiar with and sick of. I don't think he, personally, stood a chance but it was the right tactics at least.