Why did Trump keep missing GOP primary debates?
The Strategic Calculus of Skipping Presidential Debates in Party Primaries
Former President Donald Trump has skipped three Republican presidential primary debates this year and instead traveled to deliver speeches to his own audience. Trump said that he saw no value in attending the debates because his polling lead with GOP voters gave him no incentive to face attacks from the other candidates.
Such “strategy” can date back to 2016 when Donald Trump skipped the Iowa primary debate hosted by Fox News, citing issues with the moderator, Megyn Kelly. Trump expressed concerns about Kelly’s objectivity, implying bias due to their previous interactions. As a result, he chose not to participate in that particular debate.
In the realm of political campaigns, presidential debates are hallmark events that provide candidates with a crucial platform to articulate their policies, confront opponents, and connect with voters. One reason a presidential candidate might skip a debate is if they feel that attending would not be beneficial to their campaign. However, an increasingly common strategy in the pursuit of victory in a party primary is the deliberate choice to skip these debates. This decision, while potentially advantageous in some aspects, can also bear significant…
