1 year ago
The next Republican debate is expected to happen in November. But before Wednesday's Republican presidential debate even ended, the Trump campaign’s message was clear — there’s no need to have any more debates.
In a statement sent a few minutes before the debate wrapped, Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, complained that the Fox Business and Univision-hosted event was “as boring and inconsequential as the first debate,” and added that “nothing that was said will change the dynamics of the primary contest being dominated by President Trump.” LaCivita also noted the polling advantage that Trump has over his GOP rivals, and his competitiveness against President Joe Biden.
“The RNC should immediately put an end to any further primary debates so we can train our fire on Crooked Joe Biden and quit wasting time and money that could be going to evicting Biden from the White House,” LaCivita continued.
Former President Donald Trump opted not to attend Wednesday’s debate, instead rallying in Michigan with striking autoworkers and focusing his remarks on Biden's economic agenda. And throughout the debate, Trump, who commands a 40- to 50-point lead in most national polls of Republican voters, and remains dominant in the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, was a target. But the seven GOP hopefuls on the stage sought to distinguish themselves as the best alternative to the former president largely by attacking one another.
The few barbs against Trump often failed to land with the crowd. Criticism from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that Trump was "missing in action" elicited little reaction from the audience. And former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's attempt to brand the former president as “Donald Duck” for refusing to debate with the other contenders prompted some muted boos from the audience.
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