ATLANTA — Republican analyst Brian Robinson always knew Georgia's presidential preference primary wouldn't be relevant. He said this weekend's announcement from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis simply confirmed it.
"We're going to play no role in the primary. It's fairly obvious we're going to play a huge role in the general," the president of Robinson Republican Communications said. "[DeSantis'] campaign was pretty much over the night that the results came in from Iowa. He had put all his eggs in that basket and really didn't come anywhere close to the first place."
On Sunday, DeSantis suspended his campaign for president and endorsed former President Donald Trump. The only other candidate remaining is former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
"What we're seeing most immediately in Georgia is Georgia elected officials beginning to fall in line behind President Trump," Robinson said. "We began Monday morning seeing that a good number of the Georgia State Senate Republican Caucus came out in favor of President Trump, as did our Agriculture Secretary, Tyler Harper."
He said the attention now will likely turn to November's ballot.
"We can begin to strategize around what we know is going to be at the top of the ticket. The Republicans have got to hope for a big Trump turnout. Democrats have got to hope for a good showing by Biden," Robinson said. "It matters not just for who's president, it matters for what happens here in Georgia, who wins local offices from Congress to the state legislature and on down to cities and counties."
Josh McKoon, chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, said the momentum is behind Trump.
"I think he is the clear choice of most Georgia Republican activists that are talking to me about the presidential race," McKoon said. "I would have to say that it looks like Republicans all over the country and here in Georgia are beginning to unite behind President Trump."
He said he expects to see the consolidation behind Trump continue as Georgia's primary gets closer. He said he doesn't see if a path forward to Georgia for Haley if she doesn't win her home state of South Carolina.
"Our ballot is set. People will have options on the March 12th ballot," McKoon said. "But, it becomes more of a formality obviously once people know that there's one man left standing."
He said Georgia Republicans are ready to campaign for a second Trump term.
"Republicans are ready to fight this general election campaign. It's going to be competitive. It's going to be a strong race," he said. "It's really time for us to stop fighting each other. It's time for us to get behind our eventual nominee for office so that we can fight the general election. That's what I'm hearing from many, many Georgia Republicans."