Following the eventful Second GOP debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Trump campaign made a bold statement that sent shockwaves through the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the other GOP presidential candidates.
Senior Trump Campaign Advisor Chris LaCivita expressed his disappointment, stating that the debate was just as lackluster as the first one and holds no power to alter President Trump’s strong position in the primary contest.
LaCivita called for an end to further primary debates, urging the RNC to focus their efforts on taking down Joe Biden instead of wasting valuable time and money on these spectacles.
Echoing LaCivita’s sentiments, Trump Senior Advisor Jason Miller bluntly criticized the debate as a wannabe clown show and urged for an immediate halt to these games. While reviews of the debate varied, there was unanimous agreement among media outlets that Donald Trump emerged as the clear winner by simply choosing not to attend.
The latest polling data collected by FiveThirtyEight paints a striking picture of Trump’s dominance, with an overwhelming 54 percent support from the Republican base, leaving his competitors far behind.
Among the other candidates, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) boasts 13.8 percent support, while businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (R-OH) and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (R-SC) command 6.3 percent and 6.2 percent respectively.
Former Vice President Mike Pence holds 4.6 percent of the base, followed by former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) with 2.9 percent. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) struggles to make a mark, gathering only 2.7 percent support. The remaining contenders receive less than two percent support in national polls.
With this commanding lead, Trump has opted to abstain from attending the debates, denying his rivals the chance to challenge him in front of millions of Republican voters. This strategic move safeguards his position, especially in critical early primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
During the recently concluded debate, several candidates took aim at the former president, demanding his presence. Gov. Christie particularly attempted to taunt Trump by labeling him ‘Donald Duck’ for choosing to remain absent.
Moreover, Gov. DeSantis criticized Trump’s handling of government spending, inadvertently providing President Biden with an escape route regarding the issue of inflation.
As Trump’s lead continues to solidify, the purpose of Republican debates becomes increasingly inconsequential.
The third Republican debate is scheduled for November 8th, but if no candidate can make significant gains in the polls by then, it may be prudent for the RNC to consider canceling it altogether.
