Trump says GOP primary debate ‘might’ help him choose running mate: ‘Let them debate’
Jack Birle
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Former President Donald Trump quipped that the Republican presidential debate in August may help him decide who will be his running mate for the 2024 presidential election.
Trump, who is the front-runner in the GOP primary, has not confirmed whether or not he will participate in the first debate, which is scheduled to take place in under four weeks.
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“Let them debate so I can see who I MIGHT consider for Vice President!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday.
Other Republican candidates, from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, have confirmed they will attend the Republican debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23. Trump’s running mate in 2016 and 2020, Mike Pence, has not met the RNC’s requirements for the debate, but he said he is on his way to qualifying.
There is growing skepticism that Trump will attend the Republican presidential debate. The former president openly questioned the idea while speaking on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo earlier this month.
“You’re leading by 50 and 60 points, you say. Why would you be doing a debate?” Trump continued. “Why would you let somebody that’s at zero or one or two or three [percent] be popping you with questions?”
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Trump has a commanding lead over the Republican primary field, according to polling data, and only DeSantis is somewhat close behind the former president.
The RealClearPolitics polling average showed Trump with 54% and DeSantis with 18.3%. No other candidate has more than 5%.