DeSantis faces major test in first 2024 Republican debate
investing.comBy James Oliphant and Gram Slattery
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The first Republican debate of the 2024 presidential campaign is shaping up to be a crucial moment for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who badly needs some momentum in his challenge to former President Donald Trump for the party’s nomination.
Complicating the matter for DeSantis: Trump, the front-runner in the race by far, appears unwilling to provide him with a target.
Trump has said he plans to skip the Aug. 23 debate in Milwaukee. If that happens, DeSantis will likely become the focus of attacks from other candidates looking to climb past him and brand themselves as voters' primary alternative to Trump, according to interviews with rival campaigns, Republican political advisers and a former presidential candidate.
An adviser to Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who is also seeking the nomination, said the field is likely to treat Trump “gingerly” and instead train their fire on DeSantis, who is expected to occupy the center slot on the stage.
“The guy on the stage on the No. 1 spot is probably going to be taking more heat than the others,” said the adviser, who requested anonymity to discuss internal campaign matters.
Rival campaigns smell blood in the water as DeSantis has faced questions over profligate campaign spending and his readiness for the national stage.
In the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, released last week, Trump held 47% of the Republican vote nationally, with DeSantis dropping six points from July down to just 13%. None of the other candidates who will attend the debate have broken out of single digits.
Hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, the biggest individual donor to a group supporting DeSantis' presidential bid,
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