'Can't govern from a jail cell': GOP strategist says Trump rivals must go after him on indictments

Most Republican presidential candidates have been reluctant to go after former President Donald Trump for taking actions that led to his federal indictment.

However, one anonymous Republican strategist tells Politico that it's time for campaigns to take the gloves off and make the case that Trump could really be convicted and sentenced to jail ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

"There is a non-negligible chance the nominee of our party will be charged and go to jail," the strategist said. "Setting aside how you feel about this, we can’t govern from a jail cell. I just think people are scared to make that argument."

The strategist also said that campaigns really need to recognize that nominating a convicted felon for the presidency poses an "existential threat" to the party's electoral prospects.

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Another Republican strategist said that Trump's rivals needed to start making a forceful case against him, but he wasn't sure what kind of message would actually break through to the GOP primary electorate.

“It’s almost like you’re playing pool,” they said “You have to break at the start, and nothing has broken the triangle. Trump is the 8 ball in the middle and he’s’ not going anywhere for now. I’m curious to see what the fuck people are going to do.”