The Republican National Committee expects 7,000-10,000 people at its first presidential debate being held at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum this month as it does a practice run for the 2024 convention.
The RNC’s event organizer, Anne Hathaway, told WisPolitics that Republicans hope to show off the city and GOP support during debate week. Among guests for the Aug. 23 debate will be the committee’s 168 voting members.
While Donald Trump has met the requirements to appear on stage, it’s still unclear if he will based on his public comments. But Hathaway said her team is ready if he does show up.
“We’re focused on the fact that we think that they’re all going to come because the debate’s going to be a great opportunity to talk to our Republican primary voters,” she said. “So obviously, it’ll be a strategic campaign decision for them, but we’re planning on him being here and taking one day at a time.”
Others who have qualified so far include: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, of South Carolina, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Candidates must meet requirements to get on the debate stage, such as, among other things:
*RNC’s national and statewide polling performance thresholds;
*at least 40,000 unique donors;
*signing a pledge to support the eventual party nominee;
*signing an RNC data sharing agreement; and
*signing a pledge not to participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debates.
Follow debate prep, debate coverage and the history behind next summer’s RNC at WisPolitics.com’s “Convention Corridor” page, part of the redesigned “Battleground Wisconsin” portal.
Practice run
Hathaway said the debate is a great opportunity to prepare for the July 15-18, 2024 convention.
“It’s not almost, it definitely is a practice run,” she said. “It’s really, truly a dry run.”
The event and all the coordination required for the debate will help organizers figure out how to make sure communications go smoothly before the actual convention, she said. It’s also a chance to build more bridges with local businesses and other stakeholders.
VISIT Milwaukee and the RNC are also holding a Convention Partner Fair the same day as the debate to give local businesses a chance to interact with delegates, state party representatives, donors, national media and others. Vendors can bring their products and samples to their fair booths, too.
Of the maximum 300 allowed, there are 285 businesses signed up so far, and 75 of those came in the first 24 hours, according to an RNC spokesperson.
The RNC Host Committee has also started issuing requests for proposals on its website, and 37 companies have responded so far, according to the RNC. Some have already started making products for the convention, such as apparel, mugs and koozies with the RNC logo.
Hathaway, previously an aide to former Vice President Dan Quayle, of Indiana, still lives in the Hoosier state, but she said she’s in Milwaukee regularly.
The candidates:
*Former President Donald Trump, 77, donaldjtrump.com;
*Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, 44, https://rondesantis.com;
*Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, 60, https://chrischristie.com;
*U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, of South Carolina, 57, https://votetimscott.com;*Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, 51 https://nikkihaley.com;
*North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, 67 https://www.dougburgum.com; and
*Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, 37 https://www.vivek2024.com.
