Fox News Declared the ‘Biggest Loser’ of the First Republican Debate

By
David Rufful
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Photo illustration of Fox News headquaters via SDXL Images
OPINION | This article contains opinion. This site is licensed to publish this content.

The first Republican debate started off on the wrong foot because it was missing the leading candidate, Donald Trump.

Making matters worse, social media erupted with criticism as Fox News appeared to struggle to keep the candidates in check and to keep the discussion substantive on issues that Republican voters care about.

For example, former Vice President Mike Pence blatantly ignored time restraints to deliver his message. (Poll: Who Should Win the Presidency In 2024? VOTE)

However, the biggest problem was Fox News’ choice of questions.

For example, the network asked questions about climate change, which is not viewed as a major threat by the majority of Republicans. A poll by NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist in August 2023 found that 70% of Republicans believe that climate change is a minor threat or no threat at all.

At another time in the debate, Fox News managed to ask a questino about UFOs, which drew a snide remark from Chris Christie and laughter from the crowd.

“Biggest loser in tonight’s debate? FOX News,” one X user posted. “RNC, fix this!”

On the same night, an eye-popping 180 million people viewed Donald Trump’s interview on X with Tucker Carlson. (Trending: Hawaiians Slam Joe Biden’s Visit)

While leading the rest of the GOP field by over 50 points, Trump said he will not be doing the debates. The 46-minute interview with Carlson covered a range of topics that American voters will find interesting.

“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had,” Trump explained. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”

Trump holds an unprecedented lead in the early Republican primary season that is unlike anything in modern U.S. history.

For weeks, nonpartisan polling analysts and experts have agreed that Trump leads the GOP field by over 40 points, and it appears to be growing.

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With such a massive lead, it’s not a surprise that Trump doesn’t feel that he needs to appear on the debate stage alongside his rivals in the primary. Moreover, Trump says he has already proven himself with a successful presidency.

“You see the polls have come out, I’m leading by 50 and 60 points,” Trump said. “And some of them are at one and zero and two. And I’m saying, ‘Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president?”

“Should I be doing that? And a network that isn’t particularly friendly, frankly,'” he added.

Trump makes a good point by skipping the Republican debates because there isn’t anything to gain. By taking the stage, Trump becomes a target for all his rivals.

Without any possible rewards for Trump, it simply doesn’t make sense to participate.

A CBS News/YouGov poll released shows Trump ahead of second-placed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) by a huge 46 points, 62 percent to 16 percent. Biotech businessman Vivek Ramaswamy was third at 7 percent. No one else polled higher than 5 percent.

Another poll from NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom shows Trump onwith42 percent support among likely Republican caucusgoers. DeSantis has 19 percent and Sen. Tim Scott has 9 percent. (Poll: Will You Vote For Trump? VOTE)

Kyle Kondik, a nonpartisan polling analyst at the University of Virginia, said, “This GOP primary is truly unprecedented, because Trump is not technically an incumbent, but Republican voters seem to be treating him as at least a quasi-incumbent.”

GOP polling analyst Jon McHenry agreed with Trump’s unprecedented performance in the Republican primary. He even argued that Trump appears to be reshaping of the party.

“This really is a unique cycle, at least since we’ve used primaries and caucuses as the primary vehicle to nominate our presidential candidates,” McHenry began. “In that time, we haven’t had an incumbent president lose a reelection and run again, much less lead in the polls.”

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