(The Center Square) – Moderators have been set for the second Republican presidential primary debate, but the frontrunner has so far shown no interest in attending.
Fox News announced Wednesday that Stuart Varney, Dana Perino and Univision’s Illia Calderone will co-host the debate on Sept. 27 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Varney, one of the original anchors of Fox Business News, is the host of “Varney & Company”. Perino co-anchors “America’s Newsroom” and serves as co-host of “The Five”. She is also the former White House Press Secretary under George W. Bush. Calderón is co-anchor of UNIVISION’s weekday evening newscast “Noticiero UNIVISION” and its news magazine “AQUÍ Y AHORA”. He co-moderated the final debate between presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders in March 2020.
Former President Donald Trump, who is leading in the polls by a wide margin, did not attend the first debate in Milwaukee on August 23. Instead, Trump participated in a pre-recorded interview with ousted Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which aired at the same time as the first debate. Trump had earlier confirmed media reports that he would “move” the debate.
Trump is maintaining a huge lead over the rest of the candidates. He frequently posts poll results on his social media platforms that show him ahead of the rest of the Republican group.
A Center Square Voters’ Voice poll conducted in conjunction with Noble Predictive Insights, found that 53% Of Republicans polled, 18% chose Trump, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 18%. Former Vice President Mike Pence and entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy came in third and fourth with 7% and 6% support, respectively. This survey was conducted before the first debate.
On Wednesday, Trump called President Joe Biden the “Manchurian candidate”. Author Richard Condon’s 1959 novel “The Manchurian Candidate”, which has been twice adapted into feature films, is about the son of a prominent American political family who is brainwashed as an assassin. Trump also said, “Biden’s only campaign strategy is to blame me.”
Trump faces 91 charges in four indictments in Florida, New York, Georgia and Washington, D.C.
Source: www.bing.com