DLNews Politics:

On Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, the first primary debate for the 2024 U.S. presidential nomination will occur at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Of the eight Republican hopefuls participating, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to be the primary target of his rivals, as front-runner Donald Trump has chosen to skip the event. Instead, Trump will be featured in a pre-recorded interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, airing at 9 p.m. ET (0100 GMT) - potentially drawing away viewers from the debate. Other candidates, including tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who have seen a recent rise in state and national polls, will also be looking to challenge DeSantis as the most viable alternative to Trump. According to Republican strategist Brian Darling, DeSantis is considered a vulnerable candidate who may face significant criticism during the debate.

Governor DeSantis hopes to improve his standing in the polls by seizing the opportunity of the upcoming debate. His aides and supporters believe it is crucial to steer the conversation away from recent campaign turmoil and introduce him to new voters. DeSantis will be front and center during the debate and face tough questions from the moderators, including Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier from Fox News. They have indicated that the candidates will be asked to address the four criminal indictments against President Trump.

During the debate, candidates may have criticized China, and Nikki Haley suggested she would send troops to defend Taiwan if China attacked. The discussion is scheduled one day before Trump's court appearance in Atlanta. Chris Christie may criticize Trump, and other candidates like Asa Hutchinson and Mike Pence may also aim at him.

There appears to be some reservation among Republican candidates regarding voicing criticism towards former President Trump. This may be due to concerns of potentially alienating his supporters, whose votes are crucial for securing the Republican nomination. As Republican political consultant Jeanette Hoffman has noted, Trump's legal issues will likely be a topic that every primary candidate must address. While some candidates may not necessarily support Trump's nomination, they also cannot be the ones to initiate his removal from the race. The upcoming debate will have eight participants, including Scott, Ramaswamy, Haley, DeSantis, Christie, Hutchinson, and Pence. However, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum's involvement remains uncertain due to a basketball-related injury. Currently, Trump holds 47% of the Republican vote nationally, with DeSantis polling 13%. Ramaswamy, a conservative candidate and a strong supporter of Trump, may potentially garner more support in the polls.

According to a source close to the governor, Ramaswamy and Christie are expected to criticize the DeSantis campaign. A government professor doubted any candidate would have a significant moment during Wednesday's debate, especially since Trump won't be there.