Republican debate Get ready for the big show – it’s time for the first Republican debate of the 2024 presidential race! On that debate stage, we’ve got eight candidates who’ve made the cut according to the Republican National Committee’s standards. But hold up, the star of the GOP, former President Donald Trump, just announced he’s giving this one a pass via social media on Sunday.
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This political showdown is all set to happen in Milwaukee, which happens to be the biggest city in Wisconsin. Now, why’s that important? Well, Wisconsin is a pretty critical state in the election game. Trump managed to turn it his way in 2016, but then President Biden swung it back to his side in 2020. And guess what? The 2024 Republican National Convention is also happening in Milwaukee – so it’s like the political spotlight is shining on this city.
When it comes to the frontrunners among folks who are likely to vote in the Republican primaries, Trump’s leading the pack with a whopping 62%. Then there’s Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis way behind with 16% support. The other contenders are still hanging out in the single digits, hoping to catch a break.
Now, let’s break down the essentials:
Who’s in, and how’d they get in?
The Republican National Committee (RNC) gave the nod to these folks: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina. So, what did they need to get on that stage? Well, they had to hit at least 1% in a few different polls, round up around 40,000 donors, and pledge to support the final Republican nominee. Oh, and they promised not to get tangled up in any non-party-sanctioned debates – that means no general election debates run by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Now, about that loyalty pledge thing…
Chris Christie, who used to be a big supporter of Trump but changed his tune, hasn’t been a fan of this whole loyalty pledge idea. And guess what? Trump’s not planning to sign it. His reasoning? He figures there are at least three or four people he wouldn’t be down to support for president. So, you see, there’s a bit of a snag right there.
Speaking of snags, what’s up with Doug Burgum?
Seems like Doug Burgum had a bit of a run-in with a pick-up basketball game with his crew on Tuesday. Took a tumble and ended up in an emergency room in Milwaukee – right before the big debate. But word is, he’s determined to pull through. He’s even planning to join the debate walkthrough and cross his fingers for being good to go.
Why’s Trump giving this debate a miss?
While Trump didn’t totally confirm his no-show status until Sunday.Basically, he’s saying, “With stats like mine, there’s no need for debates!” He has a meeting in progress with previous Fox News have Exhaust Carlson, and he’s communicating it on Truth Social around 9 p.m. ET. it’ll air isn’t quite clear yet, but chances are the new social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) might be in the running, since Carlson set up shop there after leaving Fox News.
Alright, where’s the action happening and who’s taking charge?
It’s a two-hour showdown hosted and broadcasted by Fox News at 9 p.m. ET. You’ll see Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the Fox News anchors, taking the moderator reins.
So, what’s on the agenda for discussion?
Martha MacCallum’s letting us in on her plan – she’s going to ask the candidates about how they’re planning to make the country better. Her main goal? She wants viewers to finish up that debate night with a better understanding of the candidates and maybe even a couple of favorites to watch out for. She’s eyeing topics like abortion and the U.S.’s role in Ukraine during Russia’s invasion as potential talking points.
And what’s the deal with the rest of the debates in 2024?
The next one’s lined up for Wednesday, September 27, and it’s going down at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.
Now, what’s happening with the Democrats?
Well, looks like they’re not cooking up any debate plans at the moment. It’s been a while since a sitting president jumped into a party debate – the last one was Gerald Ford in 1976. And fun fact: Ford’s the only person who snagged the presidency without having won a general election for either president or vice president. Right now, President Biden’s got a couple of Democratic challengers – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson – but neither of them has ever held an elected office or are considered heavy hitters in the race