Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has affirmed his commitment to participating in the inaugural Republican presidential primary debate, irrespective of former President Donald Trump's decision. In a recent interview on "Fox News Tonight," DeSantis expressed his hope for full participation from all eligible candidates, emphasizing the debate's significance in the electoral process. He views the event as a crucial platform to present his candidacy, vision, and leadership to a broad audience.
Scheduled for August 23rd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and hosted by Fox News, the debate is a key event in the Republican primary race. While Trump currently leads in polls, he has hinted at potentially skipping the debate. His campaign, however, maintains that no final decision has been made, and alternative plans are being explored should he choose not to attend.
DeSantis recently announced raising $20 million during the initial six weeks of his campaign. This substantial sum, a record in modern presidential campaign history, underscores his strong financial backing. Despite trailing Trump in current polls, DeSantis highlighted this financial strength and his growing campaign organization as key factors in his bid for the presidency.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has set specific donor and polling criteria for debate participation, which DeSantis, Trump, and several other candidates claim to have met. A mandatory loyalty pledge to support the eventual nominee has also been introduced, sparking controversy among some contenders. While some lesser-known candidates struggle to meet these requirements, the debate stage is shaping up to be a crucial battleground for the leading Republican contenders.
This impressive fundraising by DeSantis, revealed a day after Trump's campaign and Save America PAC reported raising over $35 million in the second quarter, further intensifies the financial competition within the Republican field.
