Seven GOP candidates qualify for first primary debate as Trump dominates polls: report

23 July 2023

Seven GOP presidential candidates now qualify to participate in the Republican National Committee's first primary debate, CNN's Jennifer Agiesta reported on Sunday.

"Former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have each reached 1% or higher in at least two qualifying national polls and two qualifying state polls from separate states," which the RNC requires, Agiesta explained.

"Candidates must also meet fundraising criteria and sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee in order to qualify for the August 23 debate in Milwaukee. Several candidates and their aides say they have already met that donor threshold, including Trump, DeSantis, Scott, Haley, Christie, and Ramaswamy," Agiesta pointed out, noting that Pence "is the only candidate who has met the polling threshold but says he has not reached the fundraising threshold."

Other hopefuls are inching their way closer to meeting the RNC's rules.

"Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is one national poll away from doing so," Agiesta wrote, while "North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum needs two national polls, and former Texas Representative Will Hurd and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez each need one state and two national polls to qualify. No other candidate has hit 1% in a qualifying poll so far."

Trump remains the clear favorite among Republican voters, based on the surveys that Agiesta cited.

"The new Fox Business polls from Iowa and South Carolina show Trump with a commanding lead over the rest of the field in both states. In the Hawkeye State, 46% of likely GOP caucusgoers backed the former president, compared with 16% for DeSantis and 11% for Scott," Agiesta said. "In South Carolina, 48% of likely GOP primary voters picked Trump in the Fox Business poll, compared with 14% for Haley, 13% for DeSantis and 10% for Scott."

Agiesta's analysis continues at this link.

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