California Republicans don’t care if Trump won’t debate 2024 rivals

ANAHEIM, California — Hours before former President Donald Trump was set to address California’s state GOP convention, a crowd of supporters gathered outside the Anaheim Marriott hotel loudly proclaiming their enthusiasm for the former president.
They were met with anti-Trump counterprotesters, but their presence didn’t go unnoticed throughout the fall convention which featured several presidential candidates. Yet, none of the 2024 candidates were met with the same fervor as Trump.
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“It was an honor and a privilege and a dream to be able to sit in the same room with him and listen to him. Amazing,” said Shelley Freeman, a 57-year-old Clements, California, resident. “Everybody should drop out and support President Trump.”
Freeman had watched the former president’s 90-minute Friday afternoon address to the convention in which he received at least four standing ovations from the crowd. The California native was one of several attendees, decked out in pro-Trump attire, who spoke with the Washington Examiner about their support for Trump and were unbothered that he had snubbed the second Republic …