Republican Presidential Debate Watch Party Set

EVRWP set Aug. 23 for Republican Presidential Debate watch party

PALM DESERT — It’s not yet clear who will make the cutoff list to participate in the Republican Presidential Debate, but East Valley Republican Women are ready. The group has set a Watch Party for Wednesday, Aug. 23, the night of the first debate in Milwaukee.

To make the debate stage, candidates must meet a number of criteria set by the Republican National Committee (RNC).

A candidate must register at least 1 percent in at least three national polls or 1 percent in two national polls and in a poll from two of the first four states to vote in the GOP caucuses and primaries — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

They also must bring in at least 40,000 unique donors, including at least 200 unique donors from 20 or more states and territories. They also must sign a loyalty pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee, a point of contention among some candidates.

Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, has said that he is still deciding whether he wants to participate in the debate hosted by Fox News, which he accuses of unfair treatment.

Trump told Fox News anchor Bret Baier in a recent interview that he has not made a final decision.

Other vying for a spot on the stage are:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Former Vice President Mike Pence
Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina governor
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina
Vivek Ramaswamy, virtually unknown before joining the GOP race
Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson
Conservative radio talk show host Larry Elder
Doug Burgum, North Dakota governor
Francis Suarez, a two-term mayor of Miami and the son of a former mayor
Former Rep. Will Hurd of Texas