The cards are stacked. It's over before it even begins. They may as well call Republican primaries a wrap. This is what Donald Trump would like to have us believe when justifying his refusal to join the Republican primary debate. The former US president will not be taking part in the first televised debate between the contenders of his camp in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, August 23 (to be aired by Fox News). Nor will he take part in the next one, due to be held on September 27. Donald Trump's explanation is that Republican voters already know him and that his lead over his main rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, is irreversible. It stood at 46 points on Sunday, according to a CBS News poll.
Over the course of the summer, one indictment after another has been brought against the former president yet not one of his rivals has used this to their advantage. Donald Trump is therefore taking the – fairly limited – risk of letting others talk about him, in front of the cameras, as he prepares to appear on Thursday before a judge in Fulton County, Georgia, for his key role in attempting to interfere with the 2020 presidential election. No other Republican candidate has been able to offer a credible alternative. With so many contenders, the debate is likely to resemble a public speaking competition for second place. Among the candidates, only newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy has drawn the interest of commentators, particularly because he symbolizes the party's transformation.
Several polls have placed him third in the race, edging closer to Ron DeSantis. A 38-year-old millionaire who made his fortune in biotech with the Roivant company, Vivek Ramaswamy is a familiar face to the conservative base. In recent years, he has been a frequent guest on right-wing TV channels. After hesitating to run for senator in Ohio, he chose to take part in America's most exposed election, driven by a rare self-belief. He held numerous rallies in the first two states of the primaries, Iowa and New Hampshire. His obvious thirst for fame may seem childish, but the Trump era has learned not to overlook anyone. Strive Asset Management, his investment company, was launched in 2022 with the backing of billionaire Peter Thiel. "A very promising candidate," Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), said of him.
Vivek Ramaswamy poses as an outsider, defying institutions and conventions. He dreams of repeating Trump's coup of 2016 – entering the political arena with no experience, much to the jeers of analysts, offering a fresh face, and using the televised debates to boost his popularity. The key to achieving such a remarkable feat hinges on lavishing Donald Trump with compliments, while only slightly creating some distance from him. Vivek Ramaswamy has invited all the other candidates to promise to pardon the former president, if convicted, if they win the presidential election.
You have 52.46% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.