WEARE, New Hampshire Jan 27 (Reuters) - When Donald Trump trounced his Republican rivals in New Hampshire's 2016 primary, the stunning win announced to other states the reality TV showman was a serious contender. Trump went on to capture the Republican nomination and then the White House.

But as the former president kicks off his bid to recapture the White House in 2024 with a speech in New Hampshire on Saturday - his first event in an early primary state - he will find the political landscape more treacherous than he did six years ago, according to party activists, members and strategists in the state.

In interviews with 10 New Hampshire Republican Party officials and members, some of whom worked on Trump's 2016 primary campaign and all of whom have been staunch Trump supporters in the past, Reuters found only three who were sticking with him this time around - including the state chair, an influential Republican figure who is so enthusiastic about Trump he is stepping down on Saturday to help his campaign.

The rest cited exhaustion with Trump's controversies, exasperation at the constant drama, and a desire to move on from Trump's loss in 2020 with a fresh face who they thought would have a stronger chance of winning in 2024.

I am thrilled to let you know that the Forward Party has entered a strategic alignment with the Common Sense Party in the great state of California!

Common Sense Party shares the same values as Forward: a dedication to giving voters more options at the ballot box, more voice in their communities, and more power in challenging the status quo.

By entering this strategic partnership, we’re working with an aligned group to create a new political home for Californians. As is always the case, the major parties never make it easy to form a new party, so we’ve got our work cut out for us.

When Forward says it’s building a new kind of political party, this is what we mean. We’re an ally and convener; we seek partnerships to find common-sense solutions to the challenges facing our communities and our nation. Forward is different by design, and we are thrilled to be living our values by entering this strategic alignment with Common Sense Party!

Last night around 10 p.m. Pacific, we spotted Dhillon standing by herself outside of a lively reception being held in her honor. While others were drinking and socializing, she was working the phones, frantically texting members and bending their ears as they walked by. When Playbook inquired about her whipping effort, she insisted she’s within striking distance.

“I heard some who back Ronna are now kinda freaking out about it. I’ll just leave it at that,” she said, then laughed. “I don’t want to jinx this, but we had a very good night and a very good day.”

Dhillon’s apparent 11th-hour surge comes as she’s spent the past two days apologizing to RNC members for the the flood of email her aggressive corps of grassroots activists have sent their way. She’s also been privately telling members concerned about the diehard MAGA posse around her that she is not an election denier and will do more than McDaniel to push back on Trump when needed.

The charm offensive has had an effect: One RNC member who told us just three days ago that he couldn’t fathom supporting Dhillon told us late last night that after hearing her personal story this week, he may do just that.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2023/01/27/can-harmeet-dhillon-pull-off-an-rnc-shocker-00079850

DeSantis disrupts tussle over RNC leadership

Watching— Is there a proxy war between former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis being waged at the Republican National Committee? Maybe? Maybe not?

On one side — Trump has not officially taken sides in the tug-of-war between current RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel and Harmeet Dhillon although some of his top aides such as Susie Wiles have been supportive of McDaniel. Dhillon told a POLITICO reporter in California — where the vote takes place today — that Trump’s team was “whipping votes” for McDaniel.

The other side — So then like a thunderbolt, DeSantis weighed in with praise for Dhillon telling Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative Turning Point USA who is supporting Dhillon, that “new blood” and a “change” was needed at the RNC. And then shortly after DeSantis made his comments Sen. Rick Scott — who does not have the warmest relationship with the governor — gave his own praise to McDaniel.

Reaction— Dhillon herself said that DeSantis’ comments stopped short of an endorsement and said “I call that answering a comment.” OK, then. But the timing is interesting since the governor’s support came hours ahead of a closely watched vote about the future of the Republican Party.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/florida-playbook/2023/01/27/desantis-disrupts-tussle-over-rnc-leadership-00079838

WASHINGTON— Countless Democrats just hit a California-sized snag: Sen. Dianne Feinstein may not retire after all.

In an exclusive interview with Raw Story, California’s senior senator announced she’s not not running. In fact, she has no plans to decide—let alone announce—her 2024 intentions until next year.

“I need a little bit of time, so it's not this year,” Feinstein told Raw Story at the Capitol Wednesday.

The 89-year-old incumbent says she isn’t fazed by her current—or potential—Democratic challengers.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Gov. Josh Shapiro made headlines for taking the oath of office last week on a stack of scripture that included a Hebrew bible from Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history.

Yet while Shapiro invoked his Jewish faith in his inaugural address, more memorable on a brisk-but-not-bitter day outside Pennsylvania’s grand capitol was what happened when the St. Thomas Gospel Choir from Philadelphia performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing”: Shapiro sang along with them, mouthing the lyrics to the Black National Anthem from heart while unabashedly rocking back and forth on both legs.

The next day, outside Maryland’s history-drenched State House in Annapolis, it was Oprah Winfrey who left many attendees (and perhaps even a few local pols) starstruck. Winfrey introduced Gov. Wes Moore, the state’s first Black governor and only the third-ever elected African-American governor.

However, the more revealing presence on stage may have been that of somebody few recognized, Lt. Col. Jamie Martinez (Ret.). Martinez took the microphone to remind an audience that included Eric Holder, Chris Tucker and Cal Ripken that the 44-year-old Moore isn’t just a political phenom: he was also a fellow soldier from the 82nd Airborne who led troops in Afghanistan.

If there were any remaining doubts about President JOE BIDEN running for a second term, the president’s upcoming travel plans should lay them to rest.

He’s running, people. And some Democrats view Biden’s pre-State of the Union address calendar, which is starting to take shape, as the soft launch for it. His aides don’t even dispute that.

Biden will appear at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee in New York City next Tuesday, according to three people familiar with the event. On Friday, he’ll deliver a speech at the DNC’s two-day gathering in Philadelphia, as will Vice President KAMALA HARRIS, and both will attend another DNC fundraiser there, according to three people familiar with that event.

These activities, a top political aide to the president allowed, are “indeed the typical actions of a president preparing to run for reelection.”

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2023/01/25/the-not-so-shadow-campaign-00079525