GOP candidates ready to surround DeSantis at first debate.
2024 Republican Presidential Primary Debate: Strategies and Trump’s Potential Involvement
Former Vice President Mike Pence and six other candidates have qualified for the first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate. As they prepare to take the stage in two weeks, their strategies may need to be adjusted depending on whether former President Donald Trump, the front-runner in the race, decides to participate.
How Trump’s Rivals Can Get Under His Skin
With the 2016 debate attracting an audience of 24 million people, Republican strategist Cesar Conda suggests that the candidates should focus on highlighting President Joe Biden’s failings during the upcoming debate in Milwaukee on Aug. 23.
“The two primary issues voters care about are related to the economy, including inflation and jobs, and who can beat President Joe Biden,” Conda told the Washington Examiner.
Conda also notes that some candidates may try to align themselves with former President Trump in hopes of securing a VP or Cabinet position, while others who are critical of Trump will use the debate as an opportunity to challenge him. However, the candidates who are serious about winning will primarily focus on Biden.
Ed Lee, director of Emory University’s Alben W. Barkley Forum for Debate, Deliberation, and Dialogue, agrees that Trump may be largely ignored during the debate, just as he was eight years ago in Cleveland.
“It will be really weird for this person to be significantly leading in the polls, to have a lot of things that you could point to that you would find disqualifying in other candidates, but would functionally be the third rail because it means that you may not make it to the stage the next time if your polling numbers drop by a few percentage points,” Lee said. “Everyone will be hesitant to target him, then talk about him when we get later in the election cycle. That’s what happened eight years ago. No one wanted to engage him until it was too late.”
Aaron Kall, University of Michigan debate director and co-author of “Debating The Donald,” advises Trump critics to consider their attacks carefully, especially considering the audience in the room. Kall suggests that the composition of the audience, whether it includes Trump supporters or not, will play a significant role in how these attacks are received.
As Fox News tries to persuade Trump to participate privately, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s super PAC, Tell It Like It Is, has released a 60-second digital and cable advertisement publicly questioning whether Trump is “a chicken or just a loser?”
Despite the potential dominance of the “Trump show,” some argue that primary voters deserve the opportunity to compare the candidates side by side, particularly in light of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the former president’s indictments.
Scrutiny on Gov. Ron DeSantis and Opportunities for Lower Polling Candidates
According to sources, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), currently in second place, will face the most scrutiny during the debate. Concerns about his polling, fundraising, and spending led to the replacement of his campaign manager, Generra Peck, with his gubernatorial chief of staff, James Uthmeier.
While DeSantis aims to emulate Trump without the baggage, his campaign has been plagued by drama and a lack of control and discipline, according to insiders.
DeSantis is likely to spend a significant portion of the debate defending his record in Florida, which he increasingly wants to distance himself from rather than highlight.
On the other hand, the lower polling candidates will have an opportunity to reintroduce themselves to the public and potentially secure their place in future debates.
“If there’s solid performances by some of those that are not polling very well and not very well known, then that could ensure that they stay involved in future debates as we go on to California,” said Aaron Kall, the Michigan debate coach. “The [Republican National Committee] is really ramping up their criteria, and so this could be just a ‘one and done’ for several of the candidates unless they’re really able to increase their pace in polling and donations.”
Qualification Criteria and Pence’s Extended Campaign
Candidates must meet certain criteria to qualify for the second debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 27. This includes having 3% support in two different national polls or 3% in one national poll and two polls from separate early primary or caucus states. Additionally, candidates must have 50,000 unique donors, with at least 200 donors from at least 20 states or territories, and sign a loyalty pledge.
Pence’s qualification for the first debate extends his campaign for a few more weeks or months. Failing to qualify would likely be the “instant death” of his bid, according to Aaron Kall.
As the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination heats up, all eyes will be on the candidates as they navigate their strategies, potential clashes with Trump, and the opportunity to make a lasting impression on primary voters.
Source: The Washington Examiner
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