THE Republican field for the US presidential race nomination already looks crowded.
Wednesday’s debate had at least two people on it who don’t need to be around for the next one.
But are there people who should be on the stage who aren’t yet?
One name stands out in particular. Glenn Youngkin – the governor of Virginia.
Youngkin already had a successful career in business.
Then, two years ago, he launched himself into the race for governor and stormed past all other contenders.
Still only 56 (which is very young for American politics) Youngkin had plenty going for him.
First was that he was a fresh face and a bold vision.
He has staunch conservative values but he had also made the switch that a lot of other conservatives in the US didn’t manage after 2016.
That was the realisation that everything had changed.
That the old slogans used by Republican politicians no longer cut it in the age of Trump.
Trump had ripped apart the usual Republican party platform and unleashed a set of issues which the party’s candidates either had to either seize on to or lose.
Prime among these in Youngkin’s area was the issues of parental choice.
America has one of the world’s most expensive and worst education systems.
Literacy and numeracy scores — especially in cities — are dire.
But in 2020, when the Covid lockdowns started, American parents became political.
Because they had learned from home teaching not just what their children weren’t being taught — but what they were.
Parents in Loudon County, Virginia, led a nationally noted protest against their school boards.
Because they had discovered that their children were routinely being taught divisive rubbish.
Two areas especially fired up local parents.
First was the teaching of “Critical Race Theory” — which is just a racist project intended to brow-beat anyone who is not from an ethnic minority.
Plus also — gender nonsense. That is the pretence that biological sex does not exist and that human beings can change sex at will.
Loudon county parents hated this. And they ended up being joined by others around the country.
Youngkin noticed the movement early, picked it up and ran with it.
Indeed he ran with it all the way to the governor’s office.
Since being in post he has brought his business acumen to make sure he actually makes the changes he promised in schools and elsewhere.
He actually acts on what the voters have asked for. He is a very impressive candidate.
Is this his year? A growing number of people think so.
He’s ducked the debate so far, but that might be a wise strategy.
There were enough people taking hits at each other on the stage on Wednesday to wait till this round is over and then tread over some bodies.
If anyone has that sense of timing then Youngkin does.
Watch out for him. Donald Trump and the other candidates certainly will be.
