Former President Donald Trump’s campaign demanded Monday that the Republican National Committee cancel all the remaining presidential debates, saying the party is wasting money and attention that should instead be focused on attacking Democrats.
Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, top advisors to the former president, said Democrats are planning to “steal the 2024 election” and they said that’s more important than the debates the party has been staging for voters to get a look at their choices.
“Anything less, along with other reasons not to cancel, are an admission to the grassroots that their concerns about voter integrity are not taken seriously and national Republicans are more concerned about helping Joe Biden than ensuring a safe and secure election,” the Trump advisors said.
Mr. Trump has declined to participate in the first two debates.
The next is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Miami.
The previous debate, held last week, saw most of the seven GOP candidates gang up on the absent Mr. Trump.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called him “Donald Duck” for refusing to appear on stage and give voters a chance to see him in action.
Voters, however, see things differently.
A Messenger/Harris poll found that 43% of voters said they were more likely to support Mr. Trump after the debate, even though he didn’t show. A Morning Consult survey found the former president’s support among potential primary voters rose by 5 percentage points after his non-appearance.
Mr. Trump now holds the backing of 63% of potential primary voters in the survey. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a distant second at 12%.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly claimed, despite evidence to the contrary, that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to fraud. Some political analysts say those claims helped deflate Republicans’ chances for a red wave in last year’s congressional elections.
But Mr. Trump has insisted the stolen election claims are a critical battleground for Republicans, and his campaign advisors signaled Monday they will continue to make that case to voters.
