Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairwoman Donna Brazile said Sunday that the upcoming Republican presidential debate is an opportunity for GOP presidential candidates such as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) to have a “breakthrough.”
“This will be an opportunity for all of the second-tier candidates to have a breakthrough. And the first-tier candidates, the [Florida Gov.] Ron DeSantis and those who are polling in double digits, to really shine, to show that they have some expert knowledge on foreign policy and domestic policy,” Brazile said during a panel discussion on ABC’s “This Week.”
Brazile suggested that the Republican National Committee implement a policy that if a candidate doesn’t attend the first two debates, they should be left out of the rest. She was referring to the potential absence of former President Trump, who reports suggest is voluntarily sitting out the debate Wednesday in favor of an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
“So, on one hand, as a former chair, I would be reluctant to allow Donald Trump to pick and choose which debate he would show up in the future. But also I would say to the candidates, go out and give it your best shot,” Brazile said.
The 2016 DNC chairwoman also said that she’s looking for both Haley and Scott to have a “breakout moment” during the debates, saying that this is an opportunity for candidates on the stage to talk about issues that are important to voters.
“It’s an opportunity for Republicans to talk to the American people in ways that Donald Trump has not talked to the American people, in ways that the party has not talked to the American people about the things that we care about, lowering inflation, making sure that we are protected at the border, making sure that we have sensible policies to continue to grow the economy,” she said.
Brazile’s remarks come as a slew of contenders is set to take the stage in Milwaukee for the Republican primary debate Wednesday.