Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-American presidential hopeful, has called upon the Republican National Committee (RNC) to revise the rules for the upcoming third Republican primary debate. The campaign insists that only the top four candidates in national polling, excluding former President Donald Trump, should be permitted to participate, arguing that an additional “unhelpful debate” should be avoided.
In the second Republican debate for the 2024 election cycle, held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California, Ramaswamy shared the stage with six other candidates, including notable figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who is of Indian-American descent.
The Ramaswamy campaign’s request for rule adjustments for the third primary debate, scheduled for November 8 in Miami, was conveyed in a letter authored by Ben Yoho, the CEO of Ramaswamy’s campaign. Yoho emphasized the importance of ensuring that the frontrunners receive more attention and spotlight during the debates, rather than the fringe candidates with minimal chances of success.
The letter also called for extended response times for candidates and the appointment of a single debate moderator capable of enforcing debate rules and preventing candidates from incessantly talking over each other.
While the campaign can’t compel the RNC to modify the debate criteria, they can engage in lobbying efforts for changes. Additionally, Yoho’s letter criticized the reported gathering of GOP mega-donors and campaign representatives of DeSantis and Haley, insinuating that it aimed to consolidate donor support against President Trump. Yoho argued that voters, not mega-donors, should be responsible for vetting presidential candidates and determining the nominee.
As of now, Trump, DeSantis, Ramaswamy, and Haley appear to meet the criteria for participation in the third debate, with Trump currently leading the pack.
By PTI
