Those not in attendance included the state party chair, at least three Republican U.S. Representatives from the state, and South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott, who himself has been nominated as a potential Republican presidential nominee. Scott and others have cited scheduling conflicts.
Several Republican state lawmakers decided to attend after failing to receive assurances from Trump’s team that doing so would not be considered an endorsement, according to a person with knowledge of the plan.
To be sure, Trump commands a significant base of support, especially among the grassroots. While he loses in some head-to-head polls against DeSantis, he wins by a significant margin when poll respondents are presented with a wider field of choices.
Since launching his campaign in November, Trump has maintained a relatively low profile. He called on several conservative Republicans in the US House of Representatives in early January to persuade them to vote for ally Kevin McCarthy for the new speaker.
Most rejected his requests, although McCarthy was elected to the position after a fierce battle.