The Republican National Committee (RNC) has officially confirmed the location for the third Republican presidential debate, settling any lingering doubts that it might be held in Alabama rather than in Miami, Florida. However, it is worth noting that the anticipation of former US President Donald Trump participating in this debate remains dim.
This confirmation from the RNC comes just shy of two weeks before the commencement of the second debate, slated for September 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. This event will be hosted by Fox Business.
The initial Republican debate, held in August, featured eight candidates sharing the stage.
Notably, former President Donald Trump, who stands as the undisputed front-runner in the ongoing nominating contest, opted to forego participation in the first GOP presidential primary debate. Instead, he chose to engage in an interview with former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson.
There is speculation that Trump may again choose to hold a parallel event coinciding with the debates, similar to his approach last month when he held an interview with Tucker Carlson.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who ranks second in popularity behind Trump, did partake in the first debate. However, he found himself overshadowed by millionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a newcomer to the political arena, for a significant portion of the evening.
Among the other notable contenders in the discussion were former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice-President Mike Pence, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Whenever they had the opportunity, each of these candidates delivered robust performances.
For the second debate, it is anticipated that Trump will once again boycott the event. Trump has indicated that while he would consider participating in potential general election debates against President Joe Biden, he is unlikely to engage in debates with his fellow Republican rivals.
As it stands, Trump maintains a commanding lead of approximately 40 percentage points in national polls, rendering the Republican nominating contest more of a battle for second place.
The persistent prominence of Trump as the frontrunner in GOP primary polls for the 2024 election has raised pertinent questions about whether any other Republican contender can mount a substantial challenge, especially as the Iowa caucuses draw nearer in the coming year.
The RNC has yet to finalize the specific criteria for participation in the third debate, encompassing elements such as polling thresholds and fundraising requirements. During the first GOP debate in August, eight contenders managed to meet the RNC's rigorous criteria in terms of polling and campaign contributions. This debate, hosted by Fox News in Milwaukee, set the stage for what is an undoubtedly Trump-influenced landscape within the 2024 Republican primary.
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