1 year ago
The Republican National Committee wants qualifying candidates to sign a pledge backing the eventual GOP presidential nominee ahead of the first debate, a request that’s rubbed several of those running the wrong way.
With the debate coming up quick on Aug. 23, however, top contenders aren’t taking any chances, putting pen to paper for a guaranteed slot in the spotlight.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is the latest GOP candidate to signal his intent to sign the pledge — once someone actually sends it to him.
Once the RNC reviews Christie’s donors and other data, “I will sign it,” he told Fox News Tuesday morning. "The most important thing is to be on the stage so our voters get to make an informed choice about who can beat Joe Biden.”
Christie continued to bash former President Donald Trump, who said he won’t sign the pledge and might not attend the debate because it would be a “stupid” move as the frontrunner. Christie, who is far behind in the polls but has gained traction in New Hampshire recently, said Trump doesn’t want to “defend his conduct” since he lost the election in 2020.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has consistently polled in a distant second behind Trump, told reporters on Friday that he signed the pledge.
"You can't on the one hand say the country is going in such a bad direction, which we all believe, and on the other hand say you're just going to take your ball and go home,” he said while campaigning in Iowa.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum have also signed the pledge in recent weeks. Former Vice President Mike Pence has said he'll sign it, too.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has been critical of the pledge, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez have also signaled their intent to sign if they meet the requirements to make the debate stage in Milwaukee on Aug. 23.
Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, who hasn’t met the debate requirements, also said he won’t sign the pledge.
“I won’t be signing any kind of pledges, and I don’t think that parties should be trying to rig who should be on a debate stage,” he told CNN in late June, citing his opposition to Trump.
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