As the highly anticipated August Republican debate approaches, all eyes are on former President Donald Trump and his potential rivals. Six other candidates have already met the qualifications to make the stage, but the question remains: will there be so many candidates qualifying that the Republican National Committee (RNC) will need to hold two debates?
The RNC has not specified the exact criteria for a second night of debates, but it has been raised as a possibility. In past elections, low-polling candidates were relegated to a so-called “kiddie table” debate. Additionally, in 2020, Democrats divided their field into two nights for their first debate.
The seven candidates who have already cleared the polling and fundraising thresholds are Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Chris Christie, and Doug Burgum. However, surprises might still scramble the GOP cage match. Trump has publicly considered not attending the event to avoid giving lower-polling candidates a chance to challenge him. On the other hand, Christie, a prominent critic of Trump, has pledged conditional support to the nominee while asserting that he wouldn’t vote for Trump again. If the stage is split, it remains uncertain which candidates will face off.
Behind the seven candidates are Mike Pence and Asa Hutchinson, who have met the polling bar but need more donors to their campaigns.
Pence’s Clear Shot at the Debate Stage
As Trump’s former vice president, Pence has already met the polling threshold. However, he needs more donors to reach the required fundraising threshold. His campaign is actively encouraging supporters to contribute, even asking for as little as one dollar to get him on stage.
Doug Burgum’s Unique Approach to Fundraising
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum recently qualified for the debate after meeting the polling threshold. To reach the donor threshold, he employed an unusual strategy by offering a $20 gift card to anyone who gave his campaign just one dollar.
Hutchinson’s Hurdle with Donors
Asa Hutchinson has cleared the polling threshold, but needs more donors to meet the fundraising requirement. His campaign reports having around 10,000 donors, roughly one-quarter of the way to the goal.
Francis Suarez and Will Hurd: A Glimmer of Hope
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and former Texas Representative Will Hurd have each scored 1 percent in early-state surveys, but they still need three more qualifying polls. Both candidates have not met the donor threshold yet. However, SOS America PAC, a super PAC supporting Suarez’s campaign, is actively investing in getting him on the debate stage. The PAC is offering a sweepstakes prize of one year of college tuition, up to $15,000, for donations to Suarez’s campaign.
The Challenge for Bottom-Tier Candidates
For candidates in the bottom tier, earning 1 percent in polls is not their only hurdle. They must also be included as options in the polls. Unfortunately for Ryan Binkley, Larry Elder, and Perry Johnson, most pollsters have not included them as named options in their surveys. Consequently, they have not reached the 1 percent threshold.
Johnson, who is mostly self-funding his campaign, is promoting a concert featuring the country act Big & Rich next month in Iowa. The concert is free for Johnson’s donors, as stated on the candidate’s website.
As the August Republican debate draws near, the uncertainty surrounding the potential candidates and the debate format adds an extra layer of intrigue to the GOP’s race to the nomination. With several candidates vying for a spot on the stage, it remains to be seen how the Republican National Committee will handle the challenge of accommodating them all.
Disclaimer: This article is based on available information up to the publication date and may be subject to updates and changes.
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