7 Candidates Qualify for Second Republican Debate; Trump Won’t Attend

Seven candidates certified for the second Republican presidential debate, the Republican National Committee introduced Monday night time, only one fewer than participated within the first debate final month.

The occasion, scheduled for Wednesday from 9 to 11 p.m. Eastern time, will embrace:

• Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota

• Former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey

• Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida

• Nikki Haley, the previous governor of South Carolina and former United Nations ambassador

• Former Vice President Mike Pence

• The entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy

• Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina

While former President Donald J. Trump, the runaway front-runner in polls, simply exceeded the donor and polling necessities for participation, he’s planning to skip the talk. He additionally skipped the primary debate, which nonetheless managed to attract practically 13 million viewers and was additionally the most-watched cable telecast of the yr exterior of sports activities.

For his rivals, time is operating quick to realize floor on the chief. Mr. Trump’s closest rival, Mr. DeSantis, has fallen in latest polling, and the opposite candidates have been unable to make substantial breakthroughs. They might want to seize on moments like debates, with nationwide audiences, to make noise in early contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, who certified for the primary debate, failed to fulfill the harder necessities for the second. He wanted 50,000 donors (up from 40,000 final month) and three % (up from 1 %) in not less than two nationwide polls accepted by the R.N.C., or in a single nationwide ballot plus two polls from early-voting states.

It is unclear whether or not he missed each necessities or only one. He didn’t meet the brand new polling threshold, in response to a New York Times evaluation, however his marketing campaign didn’t reply to requests to substantiate whether or not he had met the donor threshold.

No one who missed the primary debate certified for the second. Most of the lesser-known candidates — together with former Representative Will Hurd of Texas, the talk-show host Larry Elder, the businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley and the businessman Perry Johnson — reported having met the elevated donor requirement, however 3 % in a number of polls was a bridge too far.

Like final month, when Mr. Trump recorded an interview with the previous Fox News host Tucker Carlson to be launched whereas his rivals had been on the talk stage, Mr. Trump has his personal counterprogramming plan. He can be in Detroit to present a prime-time speech to present and former union staff as members of the United Automobile Workers close to the two-week mark on their strike.

Mr. Trump has additionally refused to signal a pledge to help the Republican nominee no matter who it’s, which is a requirement for debate participation.