Self-funding businessperson Perry Johnson may have just snagged a last-minute invitation to next week’s Republican debate.
And he might not be the only party crasher.
Johnson’s apparent qualification came in a whirlwind, 24-hour period in which a series of polls appear to have qualified him for the first primary debate in Milwaukee, according to POLITICO’s tracking of the parameters set out by the Republican National Committee.
Another candidate, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, also claimed on Friday to have made the debate, even though it is not clear he did. “I am excited to announce that I have met all of the criteria to qualify for the GOP’s first primary debate,” Suarez’s campaign announced on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. But his announcement does not match POLITICO’s analysis, and an RNC official told The Associated Press, which first reported Suarez’s claims, that the committee considers Suarez short of its criteria.
Though the roster of qualified candidates has been set for weeks — eight, including former President Donald Trump, who has said he’s not likely to show up — Johnson and a handful of other lower-tier candidates have been inching closer in recent days.
Getting on the debate stage is vital for long-shot campaigns, giving them a huge opportunity to capture national attention for better fundraising and polling. Qualifying for the first debate could improve a candidate’s odds of making a second. Campaigns are hoping for a last-second Hail Mary pass to get them there.
There you go, RNC. When your dear leader sets the precedent for “say whatever you want, as long as you say it, it’s true,” this is what you get to deal with. You gonna let em all in then, right? I’m pretty sure I’ve qualified, make sure there’s a podium for me.
Lol. “All you have to do is find 11,800 people for me who would say I qualify.”
This party is deader than dead.
I don’t see why we’re framing it like this would be a problem for the GOP. There are rules. If they qualify under those rules then they get in, if they don’t then there’s no worry about telling them ‘no’.
The RNC is refusing to clarify the rules. A theme in these articles is that they don’t know if he qualify or not because the rules are vague.
