The second debate among Republican candidates for the 2024 election is underway at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is absent from the debate stage; instead, he is in Michigan, delivering a speech at an auto parts manufacturing plant owned by Drake Enterprises.
Donald Trump's campaign team has minimized the significance of the Republican primary debates, suggesting that Donald Trump considers himself beyond such proceedings. According to Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita, the debate scheduled for Wednesday, September 27, was a “joke”.
LaCivita added that so far it has amounted to "an interview to be the designated survivor."
Chris is serving as Donald Trump's representative in the spin room, alongside other spokespersons. Following Ron DeSantis' criticism of Donald Trump for being "completely missing in action," other supporters of Donald Trump also criticized the Florida Governor.
Taking to X, Chris wrote, “Tonight’s GOP debate was as boring and inconsequential as the first debate, and nothing that was said will change the dynamics of the primary contest being dominated by President Trump. The RNC should immediately put an end to any further primary debates so we can train our fire on Crooked Joe Biden and quit wasting time and money that could be going to evicting Biden from the White House.”
Meanwhile, a former Donald administration official and Donald ally Andrew Surabian, posted on social media, said, “Missing in action and Strength over surrender.”
As reported by AP, despite facing numerous criminal indictments, some of which are linked to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Biden, Trump is currently the favoured candidate among Republicans for the party's presidential nomination.
In a poll conducted last month by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, it was found that almost 63% of Republicans express the desire for Trump to run for the presidency again. This represents a slight increase from April when Trump started facing a series of criminal charges, at which point 55% held the same sentiment.
Regarding Trump's potential candidacy in November 2024, 74% of Republicans claim they would back him, but 53% of respondents in the survey state that they absolutely would not support him if he becomes the nominee. An additional 11% indicate they would likely not support him.
In contrast, President Biden does not enjoy significantly more favourable numbers, with only 26% expressing a desire to see him run again. Among Democrats, 47% want him to run, which represents a slight increase from the 37% recorded in January.
(With inputs from AP)
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