Republican National Committee announces stricter criteria for the fourth debate

The Republican National Committee has set a date for the fourth debate of the 2024 primaries — over the objection of the party’s frontrunner, Donald J. Trump — and has gradually increased the criteria to make it to the stage, according to a memo sent to the campaigns have been sent. on Friday.

The next debate, the party told campaigns, will take place in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 6. Candidates will need to have at least 80,000 unique donors and reach 6 percent in two national polls, or in one national poll. and in one poll in one of the four early states.

The previous criteria was 4 percent in the polls and 70,000 donors, a level that some candidates, including Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, had struggled to reach before the November debate in Miami. although Mr Christie has met it and Mr Scott is expected to do so too. Other debate participants next week include Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, former Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

The debate field has been steadily shrinking: Former Vice President Mike Pence, who attended the first two debates, announced last week that he was ending his 2024 bid, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum appears to be at risk of missing the next debate . Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who conducted the first debate, has since failed to meet the criteria.

Mr Trump and his top advisers have lobbied the party to cancel the remaining debates because he is so far ahead in the polls.

In a statement last month, the Trump campaign’s Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita had called on the party to suspend all debates, including next week’s election in Miami, “to refocus its manpower and money on preventing the Democrats’ efforts to steal power.” 2024 elections.” Mr. Trump has repeatedly echoed versions of that thought on his social media website.