The 2024 presidential candidates are positioning themselves today in the Republican Party’s first televised debate. Not there, but still up for debate: Donald Trump.
November 2024 will decide whether Joe Biden will remain in the White House or be replaced by Republicans. Biden is believed to have been framed by Democrats.
Republicans have yet to pick a nominee. The first televised debate of the Republican presidential candidates takes place today in Milwaukee, the key swing state of Wisconsin.
A televised debate without Trump
Eight candidates met the criteria for the debate, including Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley and Chris Christie. Former President Donald Trump will not participate in the debate, but at the same time to give an interview to former Fox anchor Tucker Carlson.
“There are only two candidates playing a role here: President Trump and me,” says Vivek Ramasamy, a hopeful Republican candidate for the next presidential election. It remains to be seen whether the 38-year-old multimillionaire can score in the televised debate with his “America First” policy.
But the reality is that Trump also plays a role tonight. After all, he’s the clear favorite: More than 50 percent of Republican voters want to see him as the presidential nominee. Even the 77-year-old did not participate. Instead, online service X – formerly Twitter – streams a pre-recorded interview with him.
The other eight candidates must now decide: Should they distinguish themselves with Trump attacks, or should they avoid confrontation and score points on their own issues?
Trump faces headwinds
Former Vice President Pence has a clear position. “Anybody who puts themselves above the Constitution can never be president,” the ultraconservative evangelical said during a hearing after the Capitol attack. It was clear: from now on he was one of Trump’s rivals.
As Florida governor, DeSantis, who fights left-wing, “woke” ideology, could draw fire from all sides. A few days ago he ran into trouble in a press interview when he described Trump’s supporters as “lazy.” DeSantis said it wouldn’t be a sustainable movement if everyone was “lazy pots” following Trump’s co-founder Truth Social at the desk every morning.
Chris Christie is perhaps the fiercest Trump critic in the field of candidates. With this approach, the former New Jersey governor wants to convince more moderate voters.
Poor prospects for competitors
His opponent, Asa Hutchinson, a more traditional Republican from Arkansas, is really about politics. “Without Trump, the debate is more important because, for the first time, voters can compare the candidates and their positions,” says Hutchinson.
Other candidates will find it difficult to establish themselves in the field of applicants. For example, Tim Scott of South Carolina wants to establish himself as the first black Republican. Or to the only woman in the field: Nikki Haley, who sees herself as a representative of a new generation of politicians.
Trump is popular Republic Voters
According to conservative strategist Scott Jennings on NPR, if you believe the pollsters, the candidates have little chance of winning against Trump.
“Trump’s poll numbers have continued to rise over the past few months despite all of his legal troubles. Republican voters see this election as more of a chance for Trump to redeem himself than an opportunity for Republicans to push their agenda forward,” Jennings said.
This first televised debate should already show that if you make a mistake here, you won’t have to run in next year’s primaries.
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