A few days ago, I
speculated that with only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum
agreeing to attend the Donald Trump moderated Newsmax GOP
debate, the debate might not proceed.
Well, today The Donald announced he was
withdrawing as debate moderator.
For its part, Newsmax
has not given any indication if they are planning to find a
substitute to moderate the debate which is scheduled to take place
on December 27th in Des Moines.
If Newsmax does find another moderator I wonder how
many of the other GOP candidates who previously declined to
participate with Trump will agree to the debate.
If the debate does not go as planned, Rick Santorum stands the
most to lose. If he had held his own against both Newt and Trump,
he might have benefitted from a last minute surge of support a week
before the Iowa Caucus.
Jack in Wi.| 12.13.11 @ 4:46PM
The debate was done the minute Ron Paul called out Trump for the phoney he is. If he ran as an independent. He might get a couple of votes, his own and maybe one of his wives.
Clint| 12.13.11 @ 7:04PM
Donald Trump,
“The Republican Party candidates are very concerned that . . . I will announce my candidacy for President of the United States as an Independent and that, unless I conclusively agree not to run as an Independent, they will not agree to attend or be a part of the Newsmax debate scheduled for December 27, 2011. It is very important to me that the right Republican candidate be chosen to defeat the failed and very destructive Obama Administration, but if that Republican, in my opinion, is not the right candidate, I am not willing to give up my right to run as an Independent candidate. Therefore, so that there is no conflict of interest within the Republican Party, I have decided not to be the moderator of the Newsmax debate. The American people are embarrassed by the gridlock currently taking place in Washington. I must leave all of my options open because, above all else, we must make America great again!”
?
Kitty| 12.14.11 @ 6:11AM
I hope Newsmax proceeds with it, because a Gingrich-Santorum debate would be worth watching.