Pence sure of primary debates: ‘I’ve faced Trump countless times’

Mike Pence Confident About Debating Trump in 2024

Former Vice President Mike Pence told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday that he was confident about debating the GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, and was committed to the Republican National Committee loyalty pledge.

“People ask me all the time: ‘How do you envision debating Donald Trump?’ And I tell them ‘I’ve debated Donald Trump 1,000 times, just never with the cameras on,’” Mr. Pence said.

“I’ll be supporting the Republican nominee,” he said. “Especially if it’s me.”

Mr. Pence said he was proud of the close working relationship he had with the president for four years, with included many disagreements.

“Some of the candidates for president are criticizing the record of the Trump-Pence administration, I’m proud of the record of the Trump-Pence administration, I’ll defend it everywhere I go,” he said. “But it didn’t mean the president and I always agreed, I know how to have a good policy debate with the president.”

“I’d look forward to it, and I sure do hope he comes to every single one of those debates.”

Qualifying for the Debates

Not all candidates have committed to primary debates, but Mr. Pence said in the interview that he would.

“The thing you’ve got to remember about these debates,” he said, “is you’re not talking to each other. You’re talking to the American people.”

“I wouldn’t pass up on the opportunity to talk to the American people about our vision, our experience, our love for this country, for anything. So you better believe in I’m going to be in Milwaukee. We’ll be on that debate stage. And wherever two or more Republican candidates for president are gathered there, I will be also.”

“The great thing about this process is the American people have a chance to take a fresh look at all of the candidates.”

To participate in the first debate, which will be hosted by Fox News on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, candidates need a minimum of 40,000 unique donors, including 200 donors per state or territory in more than 20 states or territories. They also need to poll 1 percent in three national polls, or in two national polls and two early state polls from either Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, or South Carolina.

Will Trump Debate?

Mr. Trump has said he may not join the primary debates, especially given the RNC’s requirement that debate participants pledge to ultimately support the party nominee.

He floated the idea of holding or attending another rally instead.

“We’ve had a lot of offers, whether it’s a rally or whether it’s an interview by somebody else,” he said. “Not to be braggadocious but the debate will not be a very exciting one if I’m not there.”

Indeed, many of the GOP 2024 hopefuls have been vocal about their express interest in debating Mr. Trump in particular.

Mr. DeSantis has indicated he may participate and support the party nominee, saying candidates sho