CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Few even talked about his title, and the brand new federal indictment he faces was fully ignored, as Republican candidates for president tried in Iowa Sunday to current themselves as Donald Trump options.

Over the course of two hours, seven GOP hopefuls took their activate stage in entrance of about 800 get together activists within the leadoff caucus state, all invited to talk at Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson’s fundraising barbecue at a Cedar Rapids racetrack.

But of their pitches to problem Trump for the 2024 nomination, it was as if his indictment Tuesday on federal expenses accusing him of working to overturn the 2020 election outcomes had by no means occurred, even from the candidate who has prompt the previous president give up the race.

Instead, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has been a vocal Trump critic, touched solely on the associated Republican outrage with the Department of Justice, which many conservative activists allege has been politically biased in its investigation of Trump. The former president can be going through federal expenses filed in June accusing him of improperly maintaining delicate paperwork in his Florida residence and obstructing efforts to recuperate them.

Hutchinson Sunday solely known as for revamping the Department of Justice and in a preferred applause line for GOP candidates promised to call a brand new head of the division.

“And yes, I would get a new attorney general that would enforce the rule of law in a way that is fair for our country,” mentioned Hutchinson, incomes well mannered applause from the viewers.

Even Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has warned that Republicans will lose subsequent 12 months by trying backward and repeating Trump’s false claims the 2020 election was stolen, got here solely as shut as saying, “The time for excuses is over.”

Trump stays very talked-about inside the Iowa Republican caucus voters. A New York Times/Siena College ballot of possible Iowa Republican caucus attendees, printed Friday however taken earlier than Trump’s indictment was made public, confirmed him far forward of his closest rival. All different would-be challengers, besides DeSantis, acquired help within the single digits.

Still, the ballot prompt Trump’s place could also be barely much less sturdy in Iowa than it's nationally.

Throughout the early months of the marketing campaign, Republican strategists have warned in opposition to attacking Trump straight, arguing it tends to anger voters who've supported him and see the fees he faces as political persecution, at the same time as they're open to different candidates.

“Think of everything he’s been through,” mentioned Rosie Rekers, an inside decorator from Waverly, Iowa, who attended the Hinson occasion. “We’ve got to move on from that.”

DeSantis, Hutchinson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, conservative radio host Larry Elder and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy made their arguments for his or her candidacies with no point out of Trump.

Only two candidates Sunday talked about Trump by title.

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who served within the put up below Trump, talked about him in an anecdote a few report she filed to him, an illustration of her irritation about member nations who opposed U.S. coverage however acquired international monetary assist.

Michigan businessman Perry Johnson was the one different candidate to call Trump, first by noting the previous president had spent extra money than he needed to elevate marketing campaign contributions.

Johnson, who acquired little help within the New York Times ballot famous he had pledged to pardon Trump final spring after the previous president was indicted by a grand jury in New York on expenses he falsified paperwork associated to funds made to a porn star.

“I think that it’s unfair that we start picking on our candidates and letting the Democrats decide who should be running,” Johnson mentioned.

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