The second Republican primary debate is set to take place this week, and it's shaping up to be a highly anticipated event. However, not all of the candidates who participated in the first debate have qualified for the second one. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who was on stage in the first debate, failed to meet the polling and fundraising criteria set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and did not make the cut for the second debate.[0]
The criteria for qualifying for the second debate were more stringent than those for the first debate.[1] Candidates had to have a minimum of 50,000 unique donors to their campaign or exploratory committee, with at least 200 donors in 20 or more states.[2] They also had to reach at least 3% support in two national polls or 3% in one national poll and two polls conducted in early voting states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, or Nevada.[3]
Seven candidates managed to meet these criteria and will be participating in the debate.[4] They include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.[5] These candidates will have the opportunity to discuss some of the most pressing topics in the nation and make their case to the American people.
While some candidates, like Hutchinson, did not qualify for the second debate, others, like former President Donald Trump, have chosen to skip the event altogether. Trump, who is the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, also skipped the first debate and has decided to focus on other events in Michigan instead. His decision to skip the debates has not seemed to harm his campaign, as his polling numbers have remained strong.
The second debate will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, and will be broadcast on Fox Business Network, Univision, and the conservative streaming site Rumble.[6] It is scheduled to last for two hours and will be moderated by Fox hosts Stuart Varney and Dana Perino.[7]
As the race for the Republican nomination heats up, candidates are vying for the opportunity to stand out and gain support from voters. The debates provide a platform for candidates to articulate their positions on key issues and make their case to the American people. While not all candidates have qualified for the second debate, those who have will have the chance to make their mark and potentially gain momentum in the crowded field.
Overall, the second Republican primary debate promises to be an important event in the 2024 election cycle. It will give candidates the opportunity to showcase their ideas, connect with voters, and demonstrate their ability to lead. As the race continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how the candidates' performances in the debates shape the trajectory of the campaign.
0. “Asa Hutchinson Didn't Make the Cut for the Second GOP Debate” The Daily Beast, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-arkansas-gov-asa-hutchinson-didnt-make-the-cut-for-the-second-gop-debate
1. “Second GOP Debate: Who's In, Who's Out, Who's Boycotting” New York Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/second-gop-debate-whos-in-whos-out-whos-boycotting.html
2. “Stage set for second GOP debate. Here's who's on it” erienewsnow.com, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/49724992/stage-set-for-second-gop-debate-heres-whos-on-it
3. “Seven GOP presidential candidates are set to debate Wednesday night” The Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/25/second-republican-presidential-debate-participants/
4. “GOP donors grapple with Trump’s staying power as second Republican presidential debate looms” CNN, 20 Sep. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/20/politics/republican-donors-donald-trump-primary-debate/index.html
5. “GOP Debate Will Have Fewer Republican Candidates on Asa Hutchinson Low Polls” Bloomberg, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-26/gop-debate-card-shrinks-as-low-polling-hutchinson-cut-from-stage
6. “How to Watch the Second Republican Debate Live” The Messenger, 25 Sep. 2023, https://themessenger.com/entertainment/how-to-watch-second-republican-debate-live
7. “8 candidates qualify for next GOP primary debate; Donald Trump to skip again” UPI News, 25 Sep. 2023, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/09/25/republican-debate-donald-trump-fox-simi-valley/8171695652536/
