The inaugural Republican debate for the 2024 presidential contest is all set, featuring eight candidates who have met the qualifications established by the Republican National Committee. However, the frontrunner and former President Donald Trump announced on social media that he will be skipping the debate.
This highly anticipated debate is taking place in Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin. It holds particular significance as a critical battleground state. In 2016, Trump managed to flip Wisconsin, but in 2020, President Biden flipped it back. Notably, the 2024 Republican National Convention will also be held in Milwaukee.
The timing of this debate is worth noting, as it is happening just under four months before the Iowa caucus, which is the first nominating contest of the primary season. A recent CBS News poll showed that despite facing four separate indictments, Trump is currently leading the race by a significant margin, enjoying his largest lead thus far.
According to the poll, Trump commands the support of 62% of likely Republican primary voters. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis lags far behind with only 16% support, while the remaining candidates are in the single digits.
Now let’s delve into the details:
Which candidates qualified and what were the criteria?
The RNC has confirmed that the following candidates qualified for the debate: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.
To secure qualification, candidates needed to achieve at least 1% in multiple eligible polls, gather a minimum of 40,000 donors, and sign a pledge committing their support to the eventual GOP nominee. They also needed to promise not to participate in debates that are not sanctioned by the party, including the general election debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
It’s worth mentioning that Chris Christie, who was once a staunch supporter of Trump but has since turned against him, has previously criticized the RNC’s loyalty pledge, which Trump has refused to sign. In an interview with the conservative cable network Newsmax, Trump questioned the need for his signature, stating that there are three or four people he wouldn’t support for president, highlighting the issue with such a pledge.
Why is Trump opting out of the debate?
While Trump’s official decision came on Sunday, he had been dropping hints that he wouldn’t participate. He cited the CBS News poll, which showed his exceptional polling numbers, as the reason for his absence from the debate.
There are reports of Trump taping an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which is expected to air on Wednesday. Although the broadcasting platform remains unclear, X, formerly known as Twitter, is a possibility since Carlson launched a show on X after leaving Fox News.
Where can you watch the debate and who are the moderators?
The two-hour debate will be hosted by Fox News and broadcasted at 9 p.m. ET. Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will serve as the moderators, leading the event.
What topics will be covered?
Martha MacCallum stated earlier this week that she plans to ask the candidates about their ideas for making the country better. The goal is to provide viewers with a more comprehensive understanding of the candidates, potentially piquing their interest in a few contestants. MacCallum mentioned that topics like abortion and the U.S. role in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion are among those she would like to discuss.
What is the future schedule for the 2024 primary debates?
The subsequent debate is set to take place on Wednesday, September 27, at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.
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