(ConcernedPatriot.com) – Seven Republican contenders have satisfied the polling requirements for the first Republican presidential debate, which will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next month.
Any contender receiving one percent or higher in three national polls or one percent or higher in two early state polls certified by the RNC and done after July 1 is eligible to participate in the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) first debate.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman, and Republican presidential contender, stated in a press statement on Saturday that he had easily met the criteria as of Friday’s Harvard/Harris poll, which showed him in third place with 8% of the vote.
Ramaswamy stated in the statement that “the RNC’s debate stage criteria are rigorous but fair,” adding:
“I am a first-time candidate who started with very low name ID, no political donors, and no pre-existing fundraising lists. If an outsider can clear the bar, politically experienced candidates should be able to as well: if you can’t hit these metrics by late August, you have absolutely no chance of defeating Joe Biden in the general election.”
Ramaswamy is only two points behind Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in the Harvard poll, but he also placed third in two Morning Consult polls this month with an eight percent polling rate and finished second in a Kaplan Strategies poll last week.
Former President Donald J. Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Ex-Vice President Mike Pence, Ex-Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and Ex-Gov.
According to CNN on Monday, Chris Christie (R-NJ) has also crossed the finish line.
With just weeks to go until the first GOP presidential primary debate, most registered Republican voters support former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary race, the latest Quinnipiac survey found. https://t.co/NYer4kxKT2
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 23, 2023
The candidates will participate in the debate if they sign the candidate pledge promising not to participate in any debates that the RNC does not authorize and to support the ultimate party nominee.
About an hour ago on Truth Social, President Trump posted the following message.
At this point in time, Trump seems unlikely to appear at the first GOP debate next month.
Will he end up talking with Tucker Carlson on that night instead?
— Vince Manfeld (@AureliusStoic1) July 23, 2023
CNN points out that all contenders, except for Pence, have also met the RNC’s small donation requirements. According to his team’s Saturday statement, Ramaswamy plans to sign the contract.
Pence promised to make the stage during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union over the weekend, telling the host Dana Bash that his team is “making incredible progress toward that goal.”
Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND) is in the opposite circumstance. CNN claims that after exchanging 20 gift cards for donations, he reached 40,000 distinct small donors.
However, he had not yet met the polling requirements. He and others must fulfill the qualifications within 48 hours before the discussion starts.
Trump strongly suggests to Maria Bartiromo that he will not participate in the first GOP debate pic.twitter.com/3l3Xpc8mT6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 16, 2023
Copyright 2023. ConcernedPatriot.com
