Trump Suggests GOP Primary Debate Could Decide His 2024 Running Mate

Authored by Ryan Morgan via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Former President Donald Trump has solid the upcoming Republican occasion’s presidential debates as a contest for second place within the occasion main, with the winner doubtlessly attending to be his 2024 working mate.

Mr. Trump, who has opened up a large lead within the RealClearPolitics Republican presidential main polling average, has repeatedly urged he sees no must debate the opposite Republican candidates within the main area. Mr. Trump nonetheless hasn’t stated whether or not he’ll attend the primary Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23, however inspired the remainder of the sphere to duke it out in a Monday post on his Truth social media account.

“Let them debate so I can see who I MIGHT consider for Vice President!” Mr. Trump wrote on Monday.

The former Republican president holds the assist of 54 % of Republican main voters within the newest RCP polling common. Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds the second place spot within the polling common, nonetheless trailing by greater than 35 factors on common. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy has taken the third place place at 4.9 % within the RCP common, overtaking Mr. Trump’s 2016 and 2020 working mate, former Vice President Mike Pence.

At a marketing campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 29, Mr. Trump urged he stands little to achieve even when he performs effectively on the debate. He stated he principally stands to be “abused” with “terrible questions” from the opposite candidates and from Fox News, which is ready to host the primary debate and which Mr. Trump has stated has been a “hostile network” towards him.

“If I agree to do the debates I get hit by a hostile network, but I also get hit by all these guys—and they are professional politicians, I mean they’re not stupid people, they just happen to be at zero—and they say, ‘What about this, President Trump? What about this?’ And I look at the guy and say, ‘You’re at zero, you’re asking me these questions,'” Mr. Trump stated.

The former president finally put the talk query to his rallygoers, lots of whom shouted “no” when he requested if he ought to attend.

While Mr. Trump leads within the polls, he is going through a number of felony prices that would upend his marketing campaign, together with federal prices for mishandling labeled paperwork. Mr. Trump has characterised the labeled paperwork case as an act of election interference by President Joe Biden and his Department of Justice. Mr. Trump’s trial within the labeled paperwork case is set to begin in May of subsequent yr, effectively into the first election course of.

Debate Requirements

In order to qualify for the primary debate, the Republican National Committee is requiring candidates to ballot at the very least 1 % in three nationwide polls, or ballot at the very least 1 % in two nationwide polls and at the very least 1 % in two of the 4 early voting states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, or South Carolina. Candidates should even have at the very least 40,000 distinctive donors, with at the very least 200 donors per state in 20 states or territories. Lastly, candidates should signal a pledge to assist the eventual Republican presidential nominee if they don’t win the first contest.

As of Sunday, Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Ramaswamy have certified for the primary debate, as has Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former Republican South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Republican South Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Mr. Pence has met the polling standards however has but to achieve the donor standards. Former Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has additionally met the polling requirement, however not the donor requirement. Republican Miami Mayor Francis Saurez, businessman Perry Johnson, conservative speak radio host Larry Elder, and former Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) are additionally nonetheless working to qualify for the primary debate.

DeSantis, Ramaswamy Not Interested in VP Job

Even if Mr. Trump’s feedback about utilizing the Republican debate to select a working mate have been taken at face worth, Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Ramaswamy have already indicated they are not within the alternative.

“I don’t think I’m a No. 2 guy. I think I’m a leader, governor of Florida. I’ve accomplished a lot,” Mr. DeSantis stated in an interview with the Wisconsin Right Now podcast earlier this month. “I think I could do more staying there than being VP, which doesn’t really have any authority.”

Mr. Trump has repeatedly jabbed at Mr. DeSantis to this point within the main cycle, calling him “DeSanctus” and “DeSanctimonous.” The former president has additionally taken credit score for Mr. DeSantis gaining his governorship in Florida and has described Mr. DeSantis as “disloyal.” Mr. DeSantis has, in flip, claimed Mr. Trump has moved to the left on points like federal spending, abortion, and crime and now solely offers lip service to his “America First” agenda.

Mr. Ramaswamy has additionally indicated he isn’t desirous about holding out for a job in a future Trump administration

“I will be helpful to this country in whatever way I can, but I would not be No. 2 or member of an administration,” Mr. Ramaswamy said in a July 13 interview on the Clay & Buck Show podcast. “I just don’t think that’s the right way for me to make the maximal positive impact on this country.”

Mr. Trump has indicated he’s amenable to bringing on Mr. Scott in some form in a future administration.

“Tim is very good,” Mr. Trump stated in a July 16 interview with Fox News. “I mean, I could see Tim doing something with the administration, but he’s right now campaigning, and I’m sure Tim and everybody else would say I’m only interested in one [position], but Tim is a very talented guy and you have other very talented people.”