Kevin Cramer called Donald Trump last week to convey his support for the president’s efforts to contest the election results when Trump dropped a casual aside that snapped the North Dakota senator to attention.

“If this doesn’t work out, I’ll just run again in four years,” Trump said.

. . .

“Who wants to be the first candidate to look like they’re challenging Trump for the nomination?” said Alex Conant, who was spokesperson on Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign.

. . .

“I suspect he will play this Kabuki dance right up until the last day of filing for the 2024 election,” said Terry Sullivan, who was Rubio’s 2016 campaign manager. “He has no interest in the future of the party. He never has.”

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