Unveiling the Ultimate Showdown: Here's Who Dominates the Second GOP Debate!
The stakes are high as the second GOP debate approaches, with the Republican National Committee revealing that the stage will host seven candidates, one less than the previous clash Expect fierce competition as these candidates vie for a game-changing moment that could shape the 2024 presidential race
The 2024 GOP presidential debate stage is now smaller as the Republican National Committee revealed that only seven candidates will be participating in the second debate, one less than the previous one.
The following individuals - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum - met the RNC's stricter polling and fundraising criteria for Wednesday's debate. However, Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who was part of the first Republican presidential primary debate, did not qualify. Notably, former President Donald Trump, the current front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, has chosen not to attend the event.
The debate is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET and is being hosted by Fox Business Network and Univision. It will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. However, there is a possibility that the debate may be overshadowed by a separate showdown in Michigan, where both President Joe Biden and Trump are traveling this week.
Trump opted out of the initial debate and has hinted at the possibility of avoiding all of them. He labeled the Republican primary debates as "ridiculous" on Monday.
"Essentially, it's akin to a job interview. When you observe the debates, it's essentially a job interview, and thus far, I'm not particularly keen," stated Trump while visiting a campaign field office in Summerville, South Carolina, prior to a rally in the vicinity.
Biden is scheduled to visit Michigan on Tuesday, where he plans to join striking auto union workers on the picket line. The following day, Trump will travel to the same location to deliver a prime-time speech in the Detroit area, with auto workers expected to be among the attendees. This visit to Michigan marks a busy campaign period for the former president as he seeks a second term in the White House, having launched his bid last fall.
The decision to skip another debate has made the Simi Valley event a battle for the second-place position in the GOP primary, where Trump continues to lead in national and early state polls. Recent polls from NBC News and The Washington Post/ABC News show Trump with a clear lead. NBC's poll shows Trump at 59% support, ahead of DeSantis at 16%, Haley at 7%, Pence and Christie at 4% each, Scott at 3%, and Ramaswamy at 2%. The Post/ABC poll has Trump at 54% support and DeSantis at 15%, with Haley at 7%, Pence at 6%, Scott at 4%, and Christie and Ramaswamy at 3% each.
To qualify for the second debate, GOP candidates needed to achieve at least a 3% registration in two national polls or one national poll and two polls from separate early voting states - Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, or Nevada. These polls needed to be released at least 48 hours before the debate and meet the standards set by the RNC. Additionally, candidates were required to have a minimum of 50,000 unique donors, with at least 200 donors in 20 states or territories. Furthermore, debate participants were expected to sign a pledge indicating their commitment to support the eventual Republican nominee.
Hutchinson, speaking on CNN's "The Source" on Monday night after the announcement, expressed their defiance in allowing the RNC's standards to entirely dictate their campaign, stating, "We refuse to let everything be dictated by the RNC's standards, and we are excited to continue campaigning this week."
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Looking for a breakthrough
I understand that there will be individuals who believe we should withdraw from the competition. However, considering the significance of Iowa and New Hampshire in shaping the political landscape, we will persist in participating and assess our performance based on the feedback we receive from these states," he conveyed to CNN's Kaitlan Collins.A smaller stage allows for greater opportunities for candidates to make a breakthrough in the race. Ramaswamy had a significant presence at the initial debate, engaging in notable conflicts with Pence, Christie, and Haley. His discussion with Haley regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where the former US ambassador to the United Nations emphasized a strong US role on the global stage, became a crucial moment that revitalized Haley's campaign.
Scott, on the other hand, has established himself as an impressive fundraiser but faced challenges in leaving a lasting impression during the initial debate.
In an email sent to supporters this week, his campaign drew a parallel between Scott's hopeful demeanor on the presidential campaign trail and that of Reagan.
"Tim vividly recalls his time as a high school freshman during Jimmy Carter's presidency. It was a period marked by grim circumstances, encompassing soaring inflation, crippling interest rates, and a stagnant economy. Doesn't it ring a bell?" the email inquired.
Scott and Pence have additionally endeavored to emphasize disparities with fellow Republican competitors concerning abortion. Both have emphasized their endorsement of a federal ban on abortion beyond the 15-week mark of pregnancy.
Last week, Pence accused Trump of abandoning our commitment to the sanctity of human life during an interview with Fox Business. This came after Trump's interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," where he criticized states like Florida and Iowa for implementing six-week abortion bans and positioned himself as a mediator on the issue. Christie, who has centered his campaign around opposing Trump as the GOP's leader, has recently increased his public criticism of Ramaswamy following their heated exchanges in the first debate. However, he denied that his attacks on Ramaswamy were part of a larger strategy, attributing them to Ramaswamy being an easy target.
Christie criticized Trump's absence from the stage, deeming it as "disrespectful" to voters and expressing his determination not to let him evade consequences.
"I need to actively seek him out after the second debate," the former governor stated.
In a memo sent to donors and supporters ahead of the debate, DeSantis campaign manager James Uthmeier positioned the Florida governor as the sole candidate capable of defeating both Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Uthmeier contended that the DeSantis campaign is uniquely equipped with ample resources and a well-structured organization, claiming that even the media and Washington politicians acknowledge this privately under pressure.
Ramaswamy stated on Fox News that his campaign is transitioning to a new stage leading up to the upcoming debate. He plans to emphasize the policies and positions he intends to implement if elected as president. In the past month, Ramaswamy has delivered two significant policy speeches, primarily addressing the reduction of the federal bureaucracy and countering China's impact on the US economy.
Haley shared on Fox Business last week that she has extensively prepared for the debate by holding over 85 rallies in Iowa and New Hampshire.
"We allow them to inquire about any topic. We remain present, ensuring to greet every individual. I am always the final person to depart," she stated. "This is the most effective way to prepare for a debate as they constantly bombard you with inquiries, enabling you to understand their concerns. Moreover, I have the opportunity to present them with the solutions I aim to propose."
Please note that the edited content has been updated with additional information.
Jack Forrest contributed to this report.
