# Republican primary debates **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 4, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556 "2023-07-04T13:07:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/1 "2023-07-04T13:07:20Z")
My understanding (and I may be wrong) is that the RNC wants any candidate who wants to participate in a debate to pledge to support the eventual nominee. What are the consequences if a candidate won’t agree to that and agrees to take part in a debate not sanctioned by the RNC? Loss of funding, I assume but what else? Excommunication? Name calling by leadership? The requirement is an explicit “party over country” rule. The worst Republican (take your pick) is better than the best Democrat. As much as I don’t like Christie, I’d love to see him challenge Trump or any of the others to a debate not governed by the RNC and then make a big deal out of their cowardice when they refuse. Make it his primary campaign issue. “Look! These people aren’t willing to talk about the issues! They are afraid of the truth and are being controlled by big donors!” Christie could become the new populist. He is already bucking the system by calling Trump out. Why not go all in? Trump in particular, with his fragile ego, would have a hard time being called a chicken and not responding with something that could be used against him. So how about it AP or NPR or whoever? Invite the top 5 candidates to have it out. Cut their mics they if talk out of turn or pull other antics. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/2 "2023-07-04T14:25:39Z")
I don’t believe Trump will participate in any debates, RNC sanctioned or not. Trump is going to be the main target of every other candidate - they need him out of the way in order to have any chance of success. Unless the rules allow him to just talk all over everyone, I don’t believe he has the balls to stand up on debate stage and face the accusations thrown his way by the other candidates. He’d much rather hold a rally where he can bask in the adoration of his continually dwindling crowds. Trump is also not going to commit himself to support the nominee (unless of course it’s him). If he doesn’t get the nomination he will run as a third party candidate. In his mind, running for president is his get out of jail free card. As far as the debates go, I’d like to see both Republicans and Democrats return to following the League of Women Voters debate rules. But that’s probably never going to happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/3 "2023-07-04T15:29:28Z")
I think he might support a GOP candidate who caught fire and was the likely nominee, IF said candidate committed to pardoning him. I say “might,” of course, because this would require Trump to acknowledge reality and admit he wouldn’t win the nomination. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/4 "2023-07-04T15:39:49Z")
The rules of professional wrestling will be more logically consistent than anything that happens with these debates. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/5 "2023-07-04T15:48:32Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > Loss of funding, I assume but what else? What funding? I think the main penalty for participating in an unofficial debate is being banned from the RNC debates. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/6 "2023-07-04T15:51:58Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > I think the main penalty for participating in an unofficial debate is being banned from the RNC debates. What’s the sanction for “pledging” to support the party’s nominee and then not doing so? I can’t imagine this pledge is enforceable in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/7 "2023-07-04T15:55:35Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I don’t believe he has the balls to stand up on debate stage and face the accusations thrown his way by the other candidates. He’s already stated pretty much exactly [that](https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-republican-presidential-debates-e674cab77b1b37e29dcb834563c9b981). > “When you’re leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the ‘questions,’ why subject yourself to being libeled and abused?” > [@Shoeless](#): > > He’d much rather hold a rally where he can bask in the adoration of his continually dwindling crowds. And it sounds like he’s already gearing up for a ‘competing event’. > [@Shoeless](#): > > Trump is also not going to commit himself to support the nominee (unless of course it’s him). If he doesn’t get the nomination he will run as a third party candidate. Would it surprise anyone if he’d ‘commit himself to support the nominee’ and then not follow through on it? He doesn’t have a whole lot to lose at this point. If he doesn’t win this election, I’d be surprised if he ran for any office again. WRT running as a third party, he’s probably one of the few people that would have a chance at winning, or at least putting some fear into the republican candidate. I’ll keep telling myself that if he does that, it’s going to further divide the right and, hopefully, that that’ll just help the left (or at least start draining the swamp of the MAGAs). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/8 "2023-07-04T16:08:55Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > What’s the sanction for “pledging” to support the party’s nominee and then not doing so? I can’t imagine this pledge is enforceable in any way. Since it’s just a “pledge” I have to assume the most they can do is not support you anymore. You can run your campaign out of your own pocket next time. I’m surprised it’s not something more legally binding, with spelled out repercussions, for something like this. If a candidate didn’t get the nomination and decided to endorse someone other than the RNC nominee, I don’t think they’d be wrong in wanting to recover their investment. OTOH, maybe there’s some constitutional issues in there somewhere. I could see how ‘endorse this person for political office or we’ll sue you’ could be an issue. Interestingly, I was curious if I could find the text of the pledge, but the first thing I saw was other possible candidates not wanting to sign it either. They’re concerned that Trump gets the nomination and they have to endorse him. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/9 "2023-07-04T16:47:09Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > “Look! These people aren’t willing to talk about the issues! They are afraid of the truth and are being controlled by big donors!” “Chris “Loser” Christie, who used to beg me for money, says I’m controlled by big donors! My “Big Donors” are brave MAGAmericans who want to see Hunter Biden and his Crime Family behind bars!” What’s to debate?” Admittedly this is much more coherent than Trump’s style. I just don’t have the rhythm. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/10 "2023-07-04T17:00:28Z")
I doubt it will ever happen, but i would love to see a Trump/Christie debate at this point. Christie has been coming HARD for Trump in his ads and appearances. Christie is the one guy who can out-bully Trump. If it does occur, i predict that Christie will make Trump cry in public; i think that would finally do him in with the MAGAts. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/11 "2023-07-04T17:06:31Z")
Oh, I would too. Christie does have the kind of thick skin you need to wrestle the greased pig that is Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/12 "2023-07-04T19:12:25Z")
I don’t think Trump can run as an independent or third party candidate if he runs in the Republican (or Democratic) primary. Too many states have sore-loser laws that prevent the loser of a primary running on a ballot for the same office in the same election. He wouldn’t be able to earn enough electoral votes to win. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/13 "2023-07-04T19:23:51Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > The worst Republican (take your pick) is better than the best Democrat. Huh? That’s 180 degrees out of phase with objective reality. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/14 "2023-07-04T19:25:44Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > My understanding (and I may be wrong) is that the RNC wants any candidate who wants to participate in a debate to pledge to support the eventual nominee. I’m not seeing any problem here. Just make the pledge now, and justify breaking it later. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/15 "2023-07-04T19:27:18Z")
I think he is saying that that is the current Republican stance. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/16 "2023-07-04T19:28:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m not seeing any problem here. Just make the pledge now, and justify breaking it later. Trump: “When I made that pledge I had no idea Christie would get the nomination. I can’t support him. Sue me.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/17 "2023-07-04T19:31:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think he is saying that that is the current Republican stance. Understood. I don’t understand why this doesn’t cause a disruptive paradox that, I dunno, makes the universe implode or something. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/18 "2023-07-04T19:38:56Z")
The RNC also runs the nominating convention. So they could ask the winner not to attend. I hope that sentence is readable. I kept falling over laughing typing the words. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/19 "2023-07-04T20:23:11Z")
There’s the possibility that only two candidates (Trump and DeSantis) will qualify for the first debate. As [Electoral-vote.com](https://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2023/Items/Jul03-5.html) piuts it: > [@](#): > > The RNC has declared that to get on stage Aug. 23 for the first debate, a candidate must get 1% in three national polls\* or two national and two early state polls\*. Candidates also need to have 40,000 donors. > > What many observers have missed is that little asterisk after “polls.” Not all polls qualify. Actually, most polls [don’t qualify](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/01/rnc-debate-poll-problem-00104502). It isn’t that they are biased or run by amateurs. No, it is something simpler: Their samples are too small. The RNC rule for a poll qualifying is that it needs 800 likely Republican primary voters in the sample. Most live interviewer polls and robo polls have between 1,000 and 1,500 respondents, total. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556/20 "2023-07-04T20:25:53Z")
The RNC has privately decided that these two candidates are the only two viable options, and have created rules that exclude all others. If one of the other candidates somehow gets around those rules, more rules will be created. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-primary-debates/986556.md?page=2)