The first Republican primary debate kicks off Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but will all the expected candidates be there?
Former President Donald Trump has already declared that he will not stand before voters and debate the other candidates because he has an early lead, and there are now questions about whether North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will make it after he injured his leg playing a game of pick-up basketball with his staff.
The governor was taken to a Milwaukee emergency room Tuesday after suffering the injury, according to CNN. A source told the network that it’s unclear whether the 67-year-old presidential candidate will be able to stand for Wednesday night’s debate — there are multiple ways around that, so don’t count him out just yet.
Gov. Doug Burgum was taken to the ER after suffering an injury while playing a game of pick-up basketball pic.twitter.com/950sHFt8b5
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) August 23, 2023
While many may be surprised to learn Burgum is running for president, he is one of eight candidates expected at the first Republican primary debate that will be hosted by Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier and Martha MacCullum.
Today News Africa’s Simon Ateba reported that Burgum has been released from the hospital:
BREAKING: GOP presidential candidate, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, hospitalized hours before @FoxNews debate. Attendance at Republican debate uncertain. Campaign says he’s out of the hospital now. pic.twitter.com/jzdZLa6cei
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) August 23, 2023
There will be lots at stake in Milwaukee with the candidates looking to cut into Trump’s sizable lead in primary polls.
The former president’s chief rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, told Fox News Digital recently that he expects to accomplish just that.
“We’ll be ready to do what we need to do to deliver our message, but we absolutely expect that, and we’ll be ready for it,” DeSantis said.
At the same time, DeSantis will likely be a common target for other candidates trying to make headway, beginning with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who many expect to do Trump’s dirty work. Another candidate who may set his sights on DeSantis is former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who fulfilled that role for Trump in 2016.
A common question in response to Burgum’s injury was, “Who?”
WHO? Doug Burgum was rushed to the ER ahead of his debut at the GOP vice presidential debate. Who is he? Will he show? Did he come down with stage fright? pic.twitter.com/0cv69bphOH
— @amuse (@amuse) August 23, 2023
My God how will the debate continue without the juggernaut candidacy of ::checks notes:: Doug Burgum https://t.co/Hbo9VnEcBr
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 23, 2023
Basketball injury isn’t going to slow down the BurguMentum
Doug will be there
— Enguerrand VII de Coucy (@ingelramdecoucy) August 23, 2023
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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