Seven candidates qualified for the Republican National Committee, the second Republican presidential debate It was announced on Monday nightJust one less than last month’s first debate.
The event, scheduled for Wednesday from 9pm to 11pm ET, includes:
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Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota
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Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
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Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and former ambassador to the United Nations
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Former Vice President Mike Pence
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Businessman Vivek Ramasamy
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Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina
Former President Donald J. Trump, who leads in the polls, is a donor to participation and easily defied the polling requirements, plans to skip the debate. He skipped the first debate, which still managed to draw nearly 13 million viewers and was the most-watched cable telecast of the year outside of sports.
For his rivals, time is running out to get the leader. Mr. Trump’s closest rival, Mr. DeSantis has fallen in recent polls, with other candidates unable to make significant inroads. They need to seize moments like debates with a national audience to make noise in primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas who qualified for the first debate, failed to meet the strict requirements for the second debate. He needed 50,000 donors (up from 40,000 last month) and 3 percent (up 1 percent).
It is unclear whether he missed both requirements or just one. He did not meet the new poll threshold, according to a New York Times analysis, but his campaign did not respond to requests to confirm whether he had met the donor threshold.
Anyone who misses the first debate is not eligible for the second debate. Little-known candidates — including former Rep. Will Hurd of Texas, talk show host Larry Elder, entrepreneur and pastor Ryan Binkley and businessman Perry Johnson — reported meeting increased donor demand, but 3 percent was a bridge too far in many polls.
As recently as last month, with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, Mr. When Trump taped an interview while his rivals were on the debate stage, Mr. Trump had his own counter-programming program. He will be in Detroit to deliver a prime-time speech to current and former union workers who are members of the United Automobile Workers nearing a two-week strike.
Mr. Trump declined, a requirement to participate in the debate.
