WASHINGTON – When Charlie Kirk was killed by an assassin this fall, Republican leaders credited the association he founded for enabling President Trump’s return to ​power.

Now that organization​ is mobilizing⁢ behind Vice President JD Vance.

Uninterested ‍in⁤ a ⁢competitive Republican‌ primary in 2028,Turning ⁢Point ⁤USA plans to ⁣deploy representatives across Iowa’s 99 counties in the⁢ coming months ⁣to build the campaign infrastructure it believes ⁢could deliver Vance,a Midwesterner from nearby Ohio,a decisive ‌victory,possibly short-circuiting a⁤ fractious‌ GOP race,insiders said.

It is indeed ⁢the ⁤latest move in a quiet effort by some in Trump’s orbit to​ clear⁢ the field of viable competitors. Earlier‍ this month, ⁣Marco Rubio, the secretary of State⁤ previously floated by Trump as ​a possible ‌contender, ⁤appeared​ to take himself out of the running.

“if Vance runs ‌for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of⁢ the first⁣ people to support ⁢him,” Rubio told Vanity ​Fair.

After Kirk’s widow, ⁤Erika,⁤ endorsed Vance⁣ on stage at Turning ⁤Point USA’s annual conference in Arizona last week, a straw poll⁤ of⁢ attendees found that 84% would support Vance in the coming primaries. ⁤Yet, wider public polling offers a‌ different picture.

A CNN poll conducted in early December found that ⁣vance held a plurality of Republican support for 2028, at ⁤22%, ⁣with all other potential candidates, such as Rubio and Florida Gov. Ron ‌DeSantis,⁢ registering in single digits.

The remaining 64% ⁣told ‌pollsters they had “no one specific​ in mind,” reflecting an open field with plenty of room ⁤for other figures‌ to gain ground.

While a recent Gallup poll found that 91% of ⁤Republicans approve of Vance’s job performance as vice president​ – an encouraging number entering a partisan‍ primary – only 39% ​of Americans across⁢ party lines view him positively ​in ​the role, ⁢setting Vance‍ up for potential challenges ‍should‌ he⁤ win the nomination.

Potential presidential candidates ​on both ⁤sides of​ the ‌political aisle are‌ expected to assess their chances ⁣over​ the next year, before primary season officially kicks off, after the midterm elections ‍in November.

Closing out the⁣ Turning Point USA ‍conference, Vance called ​for party unity amid escalating ⁣conflicts among right-wing ‌influencers over the