Republican 2024 contenders are working hard to qualify for the party’s first presidential debate later this month in Milwaukee. The Republican National Committee (RNC) has set three requirements for candidates to meet in order to secure a spot on the debate stage. First, candidates must attract at least 40,000 unique donors, with at least 200 unique donors per state. This requirement has been relatively easy for well-known figures in the race to achieve, but lesser-known candidates have resorted to tactics such as offering gift cards and concert tickets to reach the threshold.
The second requirement is for candidates to reach at least 1% in three national polls that meet the RNC’s criteria, or at least 1% in two national polls and in two polls from separate early voting states. This ensures that candidates have a certain level of support and recognition among voters. Finally, candidates must sign the RNC’s “Beat Biden pledge,” committing to back the eventual Republican nominee, regardless of who wins the primary.
Several candidates have met all of these criteria and are ready to participate in the debate. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, expressed his commitment to defeating Joe Biden and changing the direction of the country. Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and US ambassador to the United Nations, signed the pledge but crossed out “Beat Biden” and wrote “President Harris” instead, referring to the possibility of Kamala Harris being in the White House if a Democratic incumbent wins in 2024. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has attracted a base of small-dollar donors and has promised grassroots fundraisers a cut of the money they bring in. Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, met the donor minimum through a scheme offering gift cards in exchange for donations.
However, there are still some candidates who have not yet signed the pledge or reached the required number of donors or polling thresholds. The biggest question surrounding the first debate is whether former president Donald Trump will participate. He has indicated that he will make his decision known next week. Tim Scott, the senator from South Carolina, and Mike Pence, the former vice president, have both reached the required thresholds. Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, has criticized the pledge but indicated that he will participate in the debate.
Other candidates, such as Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, and Francis Suarez, the mayor of Miami, have launched efforts to reach the required number of donors. Larry Elder, a conservative talk radio host from California, and Will Hurd, a former Texas congressman, face challenges in meeting the party’s requirements. It remains to be seen which candidates will ultimately qualify for the debate and have the opportunity to make their case to Republican voters.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-11 01:27:00
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