Trump Ditches Fourth GOP Primary Debate For Super PAC Fundraiser

Former President Donald Trump has chosen to attend a Super PAC fundraiser in Florida over the fourth Republican primary debate in Alabama, scheduled for next week.

What Happened: Various sources have confirmed that Trump will be raising money for MAGA, Inc., the Super PAC backing his candidacy, CNN reported. Trump’s campaign supporters were informed about the fundraising event via a text message on Sunday, promising them the opportunity to mingle with the former president at a year-end reception on Dec. 6, if they contributed towards his campaign.

Leading in the polls, Trump has yet to attend any of the debates. Instead, he has been connecting with his supporters at different events and through various platforms. His campaign had earlier this month asked the Republican National Committee to cancel all upcoming debates.

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Despite facing 91 criminal charges under four indictments, Trump continues to be a formidable presence in the Republican primary. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley are striving to present themselves as viable alternatives to Trump.

The criteria for qualification for the fourth debate set by the RNC includes having 80,000 unique donors with a minimum of 200 in 20 states or territories and registering at least 6% in two qualifying national polls or in one national poll and two polls from separate early voting states.

Why It Matters: This move by Trump comes on the heels of his calls for the overhaul of the Republican National Committee (RNC) if the GOP continues to hold primary debates. Earlier in November, Trump had urged the RNC to save resources by skipping low-rated debates, arguing against what he called voter fraud in the 2020 elections. This latest decision to opt out of the debate in favor of a fundraising event aligns with his previous stance and could signal a further shift in his campaigning strategy.

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