The omens are not good. Readers of the runes, who tell us what to expect, suggest there’s not much doubt that Donald Trump will win the upcoming Republican nomination. Polling 20% higher than his nearest rival, he is leaving the rest of the Republican candidates floundering. A considerable way behind him is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but challenging him for second place is the up and coming Nikki Haley, former Governor of South Carolina and Trump’s Ambassador to the UN.

Languishing in fourth position, and barely scraping through to this point in the race, is Chris Christie, former New Jersey Governor. Once an avid Trump supporter, he has since seen the light and is hell-bent on toppling him. So meagre are his chances, however, that some Republicans are asking him to drop out and throw his support behind Haley.

Even with that boost to Haley’s campaign, the likelihood of either her or DeSantis overturning Trump’s lead is slim. But if Haley were to triumph - it’s a very big if - she is far from the answer to America’s ails, being almost as divisive and right-wing as her predecessor.

What astonishes political veterans is that Trump remains in pole position. After his inflammatory term in office, and following three years barking in the wilderness - including January 6, 2021, when he encouraged his followers to converge on Capitol Hill, insisting he had won the election despite all evidence to the contrary - you might have expected even his most ardent supporters to have melted away.

Read more by Rosemary Goring: Once respected, now reviled: who would be a teacher nowadays?

No chance. It’s true that some have had a........

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