Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson have both announced that they have qualified for the first Republican debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday. Hutchinson stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” that his campaign had met both the donor and polling thresholds set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to secure their spot on the debate stage. However, the RNC has not yet confirmed whether Hutchinson or Johnson will be included in the debate.
Hutchinson expressed his belief that the debate would be exciting and crucial in shaping voters’ decisions for the next nominee. He also confirmed that he would sign the pledge to support the eventual nominee, as required by the RNC. However, he emphasized that he did not expect former President Donald Trump to be the party’s nominee for the third consecutive cycle, as he has been running a campaign in opposition to Trump.
Johnson, a prominent figure in the Michigan auto industry, also announced his qualification for the debate. He achieved this by receiving 1% or higher in two national polls and two early state primary polls within 24 hours, surpassing the previous 1% threshold set by the RNC. Johnson has been self-funding his campaign, having already spent around $10 million. He stated that he could see himself spending up to $40 million on his longshot effort.
So far, a total of nine candidates are believed to have qualified for the debate, including Trump, who reportedly plans to skip the event. Instead, he intends to post an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson on social media while the debate airs on Carlson’s former network. The other candidates who have qualified include former Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez claimed that he had also qualified for the debate, but RNC officials stated that he had not yet met their thresholds. These thresholds consist of at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a combination of national and early-state polls, as well as a minimum of 40,000 donors with 200 in 20 or more states.
As the debate approaches, both Hutchinson and Johnson have provided insights into their strategies. Johnson stated that he is primarily focused on the economy and will center his remarks on his “Two Cents” plan, which involves federal agencies cutting two cents of every dollar from their budgets. Hutchinson, on the other hand, aims to highlight his differences with the other candidates on the stage as they compete to be the alternative to Trump.
Despite the crowded field, Hutchinson expressed confidence that the Republican Party would not repeat the lack of coalescence seen in 2016. He believes that the right alternative to Trump will emerge as voters in Iowa and New Hampshire take their time to make their decisions.
The first Republican debate in Milwaukee promises to be a significant event, shaping the trajectory of the candidates’ campaigns and the party’s nomination process. The inclusion of Hutchinson and Johnson adds further diversity to the field as they vie for the opportunity to challenge Trump’s frontrunner status.
Original Story at www.ny1.com – 2023-08-20 14:21:00