The Washington Times
Republican pundit Bill Kristol said he is building a #NeverTrump “infrastructure” to challenge President Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign.
The founder of The Weekly Standard told CNBC this week that he needs a political war machine at the ready for a political ally to challenge the commander in chief.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who Mr. Trump deemed “1 for 38 Kasich” during the 2016 Republican primaries, is on the short list.
“We are thinking of and doing preliminary work to prepare for a primary run against Trump,” Mr. Kristol told the network on Thursday. “People aren’t going to say they will run against Trump unless they have the infrastructure, but I’ve been trying to persuade people that it may not be that difficult.”
The pundit and director of Defending Democracy Together said he is currently focused on fundraising strategies and ways to amplify a candidate’s media exposure.
Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse was also mentioned as a possible challenger for Mr. Trump.
“A spokesman for Sasse did not deny the two have spoken about a prospective 2020 run,” CNBC reported.
Representatives for Mr. Kasich did not respond to the network’s multiple requests for comment.