All you need to know about Republican Presidential debate. As the 2024 elections approach, candidates are preparing to seek maximum support from US citizens through debates, the first of which will be held Wednesday among top Republican candidates.
However, former US President Donald Trump declined to participate in the first Grand Old Party (GOD) debate, claiming that his popularity among Americans was extremely high.
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All you need to know about the Republican Presidential debate, here are some facts about the showdown:
Where will presidential debate take place?
The debate will take place Wednesday at 8 p.m. local time at the Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee and will be broadcast on Fox News.
Milwaukee is located in Wisconsin, which is one of the most politically competitive states in the country, and both Democrats and Republicans will be fighting hard to win there in the 2024 presidential election.
Republicans will hold their national convention there in about 11 months to formally nominate a challenger to Democratic President Joe Biden.
Who will be in the Republican debate?
With the exception of former President Donald Trump, all major Republican candidates will be present.
Trump, who leads the field by 34 points in the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, has opted instead to sit for an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, a decision that has been criticized by his opponents.
Candidates must have received donations from at least 40,000 unique donors and have reached minimum thresholds in national or state-level polls to qualify.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, US Senator Tim Scott, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson appear to have crossed or are very close to crossing the line.
Candidates must also sign a pledge stating that they will support the eventual Republican nominee.
What questions will be asked?
While the questions will not be made public, Martha MacCallum, a Fox News host who will moderate the debate alongside colleague Bret Baier, stated in an interview with Vanity Fair last week that abortion and Donald Trump’s criminal indictments will be discussed.
Both topics are difficult. While most Republicans support strict abortion restrictions, many more moderate Republicans, as well as the majority of independent voters, disagree, and their votes will be crucial in the general election.
When it comes to Trump’s indictments, most Republicans see the charges against him as politically motivated, making the subject tense for his opponents.
What is the importance of debates?
Poor performances during previous primary campaigns have sunk candidatures in some cases, while strong performances have propelled minor candidates into the top tier.
According to campaign strategists, the debate will draw millions of viewers, many of whom will be watching the election for the first time.
The first debate usually marks the beginning of a more intense stage of the campaign in the months leading up to the first nominating contest, in Iowa.
The debate could be especially important for Ron DeSantis, who is currently second in the polls behind Donald Trump but has seen his popularity dwindle over the summer.
Allies believe the debate could be a watershed moment if he performs well. If he performs poorly, he may fall back into the pack.
What is the number of debates?
So far, two events have been planned, with the next taking place in September in southern California.
Several more are likely, with an October debate in Alabama, according to a person familiar with the Republican National Committee’s operations.
