‘Roast and Ride’: Republican primary revs up with bikers, BBQs and a Trump-shaped hole
by David Smith in Des Moines, Iowa from US news | The Guardian on (#6C1PS)
Aspirants including Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence rally the crowd but none mention the ex-president by name, giving the impression of a party in denial
There were hay bales and Harley-Davidsons. There was sliced pork and campaign paraphernalia. There were earnest speeches about defeating Democrats winning back the White House. But at the centre of it all was a Donald Trump-shaped hole.
The Republican presidential primary for 2024 got under way in earnest on Saturday when eight contenders - minus Trump - took part in Iowa senator Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride", a combination of barbecue-rally and motorcycle ride.
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