UNITED STATES: Eight Republican presidential candidates will face off in the party’s first debate of the 2024 election, with the goal of dislodging front-runner Donald Trump.
Trump has announced he will not attend the debate in Milwaukee, despite having a significant lead in the Republican nomination contest, to participate in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which may distract viewers from the discussion.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to face numerous attacks from rivals during Trump’s absence to unseat him as Trump’s leading opposition. DeSantis is seen as vulnerable due to a decline in polling, leaving him trailing Trump by over 30 points.
Republican strategist Brian Darling predicts a “punching bag” for DeSantis, describing him as a wounded candidate heading in the wrong direction.
The debate on Donald Trump’s presidency will begin at the Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m. ET, despite his absence. Fox News co-hosts Brett Baier, and Martha MacCallum will push contenders to confront Trump’s four criminal indictments.
The event will take place the day before Trump turns himself in Atlanta following his arrest in Georgia for attempting to rig the 2020 election. Trump is being investigated in connection with the arrest.
Chris Christie, a former New Jersey governor, and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson and former vice president Mike Pence may criticize Trump during the debate. However, Republican political consultant Jeanette Hoffman suggests that other candidates may avoid attacking Trump to avoid alienating his supporters, who are crucial for securing the Republican nomination.
Polls show that most Republicans believe Trump’s criminal allegations are politically motivated, making it difficult for opponents to broach the subject.
Donald Trump’s legal troubles are a key factor in the Republican primary race, with eight candidates, including DeSantis, Christie, Hutchinson, Pence, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, and Doug Burgum. These candidates find themselves in a catch-22 situation, as they must not only oppose Trump’s run but also not be the ones to remove him.
Trump holds 47% of the Republican vote nationally, while DeSantis’ vote has dropped from six percentage points to 13%. Republican stratergist predict that Ramaswamy could gain ground after the debate. He and Christie are expected to take strong shots at DeSantis’ campaign. The debate may be a turning point in the election, giving the governor’s campaign new vitality, according to advisers and supporters.
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