Haley, Ramaswamy on track to qualify for first Republican debate
Indian American Republican presidential aspirants set to join party’s first primary debate on Aug 23 in Milwaukee
Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, the two Indian American Republican aspirants in 2024 presidential race, are on track to qualify for the first Republican primary debate on Aug 23 in Milwaukee, according to media reports.
Haley and Ramaswamy would be facing off with former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Carolina senator Tim Scott and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie during the debate in Milwaukee − the largest city in the key battleground state of Wisconsin.
READ: Nikki Haley raises $7.3 million in second quarter (July 14, 2023)
Several other candidates including former Vice Present Mike Pence, Will Hurd, Doug Burgum, Asa Hutchinson, Ryan Binkley, Francis Suarez and Larry Elder are still working on qualifying, according to USA Today.
The Republican National Committee set forth requirements in June that candidates must meet on status, polling, fundraising and pledging to take part in the debate.
Candidates must poll at least 1% in three national polls or 1% in two national polls and 1% from an early state poll from two “carve out” states recognized by the committee.
Candidates must also have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors part of their presidential campaign committee – with at least 200 unique donors per state – and sign a pledge agreeing to support the eventual party nominee.
According to USA Today Haley, the first Indian American to serve in a presidential cabinet under Trump as US ambassador to UN is on track to meet the requirements for the debate.
Former Republican South Carolina Governor’s spokesperson told USA Today that she has “well over 40,000 unique donors” and is “looking forward to being on the debate stage.”
The New York Times reported she’s raised over $7.3 million through her campaign and affiliated committees between April and June.
READ: We need an outsider in the White House: Vivek Ramaswamy (July 11, 2023)
The survey from Morning Consult shows she has registered 3% of support among Republican voters, which is on par with two of her rivals. She’s also maintained scoring above 1% in other polls.
Haley indicated on Twitter she plans on supporting the eventual nominee for the Republican party.
“Absolutely irresponsible that Trump, DeSantis, and others won’t commit 100% to supporting the Republican nominee,” Haley tweeted. “There’s no room for personal vendettas in this battle to save our country.”
Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has also fulfilled the debate criteria, according to his spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin cited by USA Today.
McLaughlin told USA Today that Ramaswamy has 65,000 donors. As part of his fundraising strategy, Ramaswamy has laid out incentives for supporters such as offering to give them a 10% cut of the total money he raises for his presidential bid, according to Axios.
The survey from Morning Consult shows Ramaswamy has received 8% support from GOP voters, surpassing former Vice President Mike Pence and trailing behind DeSantis. He’s also starting to receive double-digit figures in some polls.
Trump, the Republican frontrunner, has 56% of support from potential Republican voters, and he’s placed first in other national and state polls, according to a survey from Morning Consult.
READ: Nikki Haley joins 2024 US presidential race (February 14, 2023)
His campaign said that he has also raised more than $35 million during the second quarter of the year – about twice the amount raised during the first quarter, Politico first reported.
DeSantis, who’s trailing behind Trump in the Republican primary polls, has raised more than $20 million during the first six weeks of his candidacy and has about 50,000 donors as of late June, according to the New York Times.
READ: Nikki Haley pulls key support from Ron DeSantis (February 9, 2023)
READ: Nikki Haley faces a serious uphill climb: The Hill (February 3, 2023)
READ: Vivek Ramaswamy embraces American nationalist identity for 2024 race (June 7, 2023)
READ: Vivek Ramaswamy: from suspected vanity campaigner to a contender (May 10, 2023)
Read: Vivek Ramaswamy enters Republican race for White House (February 22, 2023)
READ: Vivek Ramaswamy exploring 2024 presidential run (February 14, 2023)
