Regardless, during the first Republican presidential debate Wednesday, many candidates seemed to embrace policies popularized by Trump, particularly with regards to climate change and the U.S. border with Mexico.

“I think what we saw that night was a race to the extreme part of the Republican Party. A race to the MAGA base. And that’s what we expected. And I think that’s very out of touch with what a general election strategy could and should be and with what most Americans want,” Richmond said.

“Whether it’s former President Trump or not, I think that it will be everything that he has brought the Republican Party to,” Richmond added later.

Biden faces his own primary challenges among Democrats from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson, but he holds a more than 50 point lead over them, according to a recent ABC poll.