Participating in the GOP debate at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum are Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina, former Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
In order to qualify for Wednesday’s debate, candidates needed to meet polling and donor requirements set by the Republican National Committee. Candidates had to demonstrate at least 1% support in three reputable national polls, or a combination of national and early voting state polls, between July 1 and August 21.
Additionally, candidates were required to receive financial contributions from a minimum of 40,000 donors, with at least 200 of these contributions originating from 20 different states.
Despite leading opponents in polling and meeting all debate criteria, former President Donald Trump declined to participate in the debate.
According to an Associated Press report, Trump explained that he saw no reason to expose himself to the expected barrage of attacks, given his significant lead in the polls.
“People know my Record, one of the best ever, so why would I debate?” he remarked in a post to his Truth Social account, adding, “I’M YOUR MAN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
DeSantis’ campaign is struggling to meet the initial high expectations placed upon it. A substantial portion of his staff has been laid off, and financial filings reveal that his campaign expenditures resemble the spending frenzy of a Kardashian during a Macy’s sale.
While consistently securing the second spot in polls, although significantly trailing Trump, DeSantis is likely to become the focal point for many other candidates during the debates. After all, debating Trump’s absence poses its challenges.
The inaugural debate presents an opportunity for South Carolina Senator Tim Scott to shine. A prolific fundraiser, he began the summer with $21 million in campaign funds, as highlighted by the AP.
Former Governor Nikki Haley, the sole woman in the GOP race, has highlighted the participation of transgender students in sports as a crucial women’s issue of our time.
Heralded by a prominent pro-life organization for her exceptional communication skills from a pro-life woman’s perspective, Haley, a former U.N. ambassador, garners praise.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and the author of “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam,” also joins the fray.
Ramaswamy has garnered popularity among audiences during multicandidate events and performs well in polls, even though he wasn’t a nationally recognized figure before entering the race. He actively supports his campaign by maintaining a consistent presence on social media platforms.
Initiating his campaign, former Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey positioned himself as the sole contender prepared to confront Trump. Christie’s campaign strategy consistently revolves around opposition to Trump, and he directly challenged the former president to engage in debates and defend his track record.
Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, previously a software entrepreneur, is in his second term and has predominantly financed his own campaign. He stirred controversy by offering $20 gift cards to small donors in order to secure the required number of contributors.
Former Vice President Mike Pence’s campaign successfully amassed the necessary number of donors by August 8th. According to a campaign insider, Pence has already taken part in roughly six formal debate preparation sessions earlier this month.
During at least one of these preparation sessions, an individual from Pence’s campaign with prior proximity to Trump assumed the role of the former president, as detailed in the AP report.
