Multiple current and former campaign officials are "cautiously optimistic" that the boost former President Donald Trump sees after being indicted will carry him through the 2024 Republican primaries.
Trump is in Manhattan, where he is expected to be arraigned Tuesday for over 30 counts in relation to hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
WATCH LIVE: DONALD TRUMP EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT COURTHOUSE FOR ARRAIGNMENT
Still, Trump has only widened his lead over the Republican 2024 primary field and has seen a massive uptick in donations — more than $8 million since news of the indictment broke on Thursday, according to senior adviser Jason Miller.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll published Monday saw Trump leading yet-to-announce Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is widely viewed as Trump's chief competition in the primary, 48% to 19%, a 15-point jump compared to March.
Morning Consult also shows Trump up 29 points on DeSantis, a 3-point improvement compared to the week prior.
Perhaps most importantly, MAGA officials say, is the effect the indictment is having on the field itself and how campaign media coverage is solely focused on the elephant in the room.
"Right now, everyone, from [former U.N Ambassador Nikki] Haley to DeSantis, is being forced to line up behind him rather than anger the base," one former Trump administration aide told the Washington Examiner. "It's going to make it that much more difficult to separate themselves by the time we get to Iowa."
"He was already over 50%, and now, every GOPer is circling the wagons," a Trump-supporting campaign operative added. "Fox is friendly, and Ron looks very small. He battles a theme park while DJT battles the legal system."
Republican campaign veterans also suggested to the Washington Examiner that Trump's indictment could prevent GOP hopefuls, including DeSantis and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), from getting into the 2024 race at all.
"Everything depends on how Trump's legal problems play out. The Manhattan indictment isn't going to stick, and it might even further complicate [Justice Department special counsel] Jack Smith's ongoing investigations," one GOP operative explained. "This cycle might just be too messy for these guys to jump in."
Trump himself has not only used the indictment to portray himself once again as a political victim but also to prop up the New York County district attorney as the new face of Democrats' alleged campaign malfeasance.
"Wow! District Attorney Bragg just illegally LEAKED the various points, and complete information, on the pathetic Indictment against me. I know the reporter and so, unfortunately, does he. This means that he MUST BE IMMEDIATELY INDICTED," Trump wrote of District Attorney Alvin Bragg Monday night on Truth Social. "Now, if he wants to really clean up his reputation, he will do the honorable thing and, as District Attorney, INDICT HIMSELF. He will go down in Judicial history, and his Trump Hating wife will be, I am sure, very proud of him!"
Trump won't have the opportunity, however, to carry out some of his reportedly floated theatrics. The former president won't be handcuffed and perp-walked into the courthouse Tuesday, thanks to Secret Service protocols. There won't be any video of the arraignment itself after state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan ruled video cameras could not record the process, though photographers will still be allowed inside.
"That this indictment involves a matter of monumental significance cannot possibly be disputed. Never in the history of the United States has a sitting or past President been indicted on criminal charges. Mr. Trump’s arraignment has generated unparalleled public interest and media attention," the judge wrote. "The populace rightly hungers for the most accurate and current information available. To suggest otherwise would be disingenuous."
MAGA officials say Trump's lashing out at Democrats, coupled with the "trigger happy" Bragg, will make it "extremely" difficult for President Joe Biden.
"He's boxed in. He either leans into locking Don up to appease the [Trump Derangement Syndrome] crowd and reveal how crooked this whole witch hunt is, or he tries to stay out of the mud and just keep quiet," one Trump official texted the Washington Examiner.
So far, Biden appears to be doing the latter.
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"I'm not going to talk about Trump's indictment," the president stated Friday morning flatly, and top White House officials, including press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, have avoided commenting on Trump's legal woes for months.
That could all change after Tuesday, however, as droves of Trump supporters and even a few sitting Republican politicians are expected to protest Trump's scheduled 2:15 p.m. arraignment.