WASHINGTON ― The debate stage for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination is down to five names, the Republican National Committee announced Monday, with coup-attempting former President Donald Trump still refusing to participate.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott all met the criteria for Wednesday night’s third debate of the primary season.
The two-hour encounter is to start at 8 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami.
The requirements to make the stage have ramped up gradually over the past months, from 1% in polls and 40,000 individual donors for the first debate; 3% and 50,000 for the second; and 4% and 70,000 for the third.
The fourth debate, set for Dec. 6 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will require 6% polling and 80,000 unique donors.
Eight candidates participated in the first debate in August, and seven in the second….