In the wake of another disappointing election for the Republican party, it appears that candidates are increasingly willing to challenge the Republican National Committee (RNC).
This sentiment was evident during the third debate when Vivek Ramaswamy called for the resignation of RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, citing the party's "culture of losing."
Adding fuel to the fire, Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, has announced his intention to defy McDaniel's threat to disqualify any candidate who attends an upcoming forum in Iowa. DeSantis stated to @wrmcduff, I think it's an important part of this process. It's been a part of this process for a long time. There's no way that should cause the RNC to penalize any candidate.
The RNC, in a letter dated October 28th, has classified the Family Leader Thanksgiving Forum, hosted by Bob Vander Plaats, as a "debate." This classification could potentially violate the pledge signed by the candidates to participate in the RNC debates. However, there is a strong argument to be made that the RNC is stretching the term's definition to unreasonable lengths.
The RNC counsels office, in a letter obtained by CNN, stated, It has come to the attention of the RNC Counsels Office that several Republican presidential candidates have been invited to participate in an open-press event in Iowa in November at which they would gather around the table to have a moderated, friendly, and open discussion about the issues. In other words, a debate.
From a strategic perspective, DeSantis's decision to attend the forum despite the RNC's warning is a sound one. His campaign's success hinges on winning Iowa and altering the race's dynamic before New Hampshire. If he fails to secure victory in the Iowa caucuses, it could spell the end of his chances for the nomination.
Given these stakes, DeSantis's decision to prioritize the Iowa forum over another RNC-officiated debate seems a logical one. However, this assumes that McDaniel will follow through on her threat. The RNC's classification of a roundtable discussion as a "debate" is questionable, suggesting that any setting where two or more candidates are present constitutes a debate. This is a bold assertion, considering that candidate forums have long been a staple in the early states.
Regardless, DeSantis has drawn a line in the sand. It remains to be seen whether McDaniel was bluffing. The RNC, already under scrutiny, may not need to engage in a battle with the second-leading presidential candidate over a dubious technicality. This move appears to have little upside and could potentially further damage the RNC's standing.
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