Several Republican presidential hopefuls are eagerly vying for the chance to participate in the Republican primary debate on August 23rd. However, Trump has hinted that he may skip the debate questioning why he should subject himself to attacks from his competitors when he already holds a substantial lead in the polls. His absence could greatly affect his rivals, as a smaller audience might limit opportunities for candidates to stand out and benefit from valuable fundraising prospects. It would be particularly difficult for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who could become the main target on the stage. Lower-polling Republican candidates strive to meet the Republican National Committee's debate qualification criteria, which involve garnering at least 40,000 unique donors and obtaining 1% support in specific national polls, through enticing perks to boost donor engagement.
