Will GOP voters still watch the Republican debate without Trump as the front-runner?

Former President Donald Trump Declines Participation in GOP Debate

Former President​ Donald Trump has announced that he will not be participating in the highly anticipated GOP debate this week. This decision has raised‍ questions about⁢ the event’s ability to capture the attention of undecided voters and⁢ whether it will be worth⁢ watching ‌at all.

Despite Trump’s absence, eight candidates have qualified for the debate, setting the stage for‌ them to distinguish themselves from the crowded field just months before the primary election cycle begins. With Trump out of the picture, the candidates⁣ are expected to shift their focus away from the former ⁣president and instead establish themselves as the strongest contender to ​secure the nomination.

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“At this point and this early in⁣ the process, it’s really more about trying to get themselves up in the polls,” said Todd Belt, a professor and director of the political management master’s program at George Washington University. “A lot of the people who will be‌ watching are non-Trump voters, which is exactly the ⁤type of segment that these candidates are trying to appeal to ⁤because they know that their ability to shift votes away from Trump is very, very limited.”

Trump confirmed on Sunday that he would not participate in the debates, citing ⁢his dominance in the polls ⁢as evidence‍ that his ⁣presence would ⁤be unnecessary.

The decision came shortly after CBS News released a new ⁢poll showing Trump leading the field by nearly 50 points, with approximately 62% of voters expressing their support for the former president. Governor Ron ​DeSantis (R-FL) came in a distant second with‍ 16% support, while no other candidate managed ⁣to garner double-digit support.

“New CBS POLL, just out, has ⁤me leading the field by ‘legendary’ numbers,” Trump stated in a Truth Social post. “The public knows who I am⁣ & what a successful Presidency I had, with‌ Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & ⁣much more. I WILL​ THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”

Instead of participating in ‌the debates, Trump plans to promote⁢ counterprogramming scheduled at the same time, aiming to divert attention⁣ away from the event.

This decision has faced pushback from some members of the Republican Party who⁢ argue that the debates provide an opportunity for candidates to differentiate themselves in a crowded field and give those lagging in the polls a chance to catch up with Trump.

“The Republican nomination is not a foregone conclusion, ​despite what the liberal media says,” stated ‌Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC). “It’s important for Republican voters to see which candidates are capable of winning in the general election and who is not. These debates will provide the perfect‍ opportunity for that, and I think you’ll see Nikki Haley rise to the top.” (Norman endorsed former U.N. Ambassador Nikki ⁣Haley ⁢for the GOP nomination in February.)

Some presidential candidates ⁣have ⁤also expressed ‌their disagreement with Trump’s decision,⁤ emphasizing the importance⁣ for voters​ to see each platform before ‌making their decision. Senator ⁢Tim Scott (R-SC) stated ‍in an interview with Fox News that he hoped Trump would⁢ participate, noting that it is ‌crucial for‌ voters to see candidates’ “vision for America and how our‌ presidency would change the tide.”

“The American people deserve to see each candidate’s vision for our country,” a spokesperson for the Scott campaign later told the Washington Examiner. “Tim Scott will share his optimistic ⁤and positive message rooted in conservative values and show how his leadership will end the Biden administration’s retreat.”

Trump’s absence from the stage, coupled with his plans to air a prerecorded interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson at‌ the same time as the ‍debate, has raised questions about who will actually tune into‌ the event. Without Trump’s participation, many of his supporters may not be inclined to watch, potentially disrupting ⁢the candidates’ efforts to appeal to his base.

“I’m not ​buying that,” said Robert Doar, president of the⁣ American Enterprise Institute. “I just don’t think that the ⁤only people that vote in primaries ⁣are going to be people that are infatuated with Donald Trump. It’s a good chance that because of the importance of this election, because of the controversy surrounding him, the primary voters in those states are going to be different than previous primary voters in previous years.”

“If you⁤ just look at the numbers,‌ there are a lot more Republicans who could vote in those⁣ primaries that have voted in the ‌past,” he added. ⁣”If those Republicans‌ turn out, they are much more open to voting ‍for one of the other candidates than for Trump.”

Click here to read more from the Washington ‍Examiner

The debate is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. on Wednesday in Milwaukee ‌and will ‍be⁢ broadcast by Fox News, the host of the event. The debate will be moderated by Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha ⁣MacCallum.

Eight candidates ‍will participate, including DeSantis, Haley, ⁣entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, Scott, former New Jersey Governor⁣ Chris Christie, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and former Arkansas Governor ​Asa Hutchinson.

Julia Johnson contributed to this report.