Two GOP presidential candidates are pushing back against the RNC’s ruling that candidates can not participate in non-sanctioned debates.
The RNC established the ruling to minimize the number of debates between candidates — thus garnering more interest in RNC-sanctioned events.
At odds with the policy are former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who deplaned to debate on the Fox News network’s “Special Report” program.
RNC leadership responded by threatening to ban both Christie and Ramaswamy from the stage of the important third RNC-sanctioned debate — scheduled for Nov. 8 in Miami, Florida.
Christie and Ramaswamy are calling foul and have been heavily critical of the RNC.
Christie posted his dissatisfaction on X:
“It is very disappointing that we were threatened with exclusion from the Miami debate and future debates for trying to have a more complete dialogue with each other and the voters. Every campaign was offered that opportunity by Fox News and they have now been effectively banned by the RNC.”
Ramaswamy also criticized the RNC, writing, “Last week’s RNC debate was a disgrace, and I’m starting to believe that was by design. This is what a brokered and rigged nomination process looks like. I disagree like hell with @GovChristie, but when they asked me to face off with him, I said I’d be a man and do it – before the RNC intervened to cut it off.”
Christie and Ramaswamy appear to be bitter enemies as they vie for the GOP nomination for the 2024 election. However, they are together in condemning the RNC for limiting their ability to make their political views known via healthy debates.
The New York Post reported that in other debate news, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis challenged front-runner and former President Donald Trump to a debate. Trump, 77, declined the invitation.
DeSantis will reportedly debate California Gov. Gavin Newsom in late November. That event will be allowed as Newsom is not a Republican nor a candidate for president at this time.
Interestingly, Trump has asked the RNC to cancel further GOP debates, citing his substantial lead and belief he is the presumptive nominee. Trump senior advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita released a statement on Monday:
“The Republican National Committee should immediately cancel the upcoming debate in Miami and end all future debates in order to refocus its manpower and money on preventing Democrats’ efforts to steal the 2024 election.”
The RNC and other GOP candidates oppose Trump’s suggestion.
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