'We can't have division': GOP chair defends forcing candidates to pledge loyalty if nominee is a felon
The Republican National Committee is requiring candidates for president take a loyalty pledge to qualify for the first debate. But officials are refusing a request by one candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, to create an escape hatch to let candidates not endorse the winner if that winner is convicted of a crime — a clear reference to former President Donald Trump's current legal situation.
In an interview on Friday evening with CNN's Kaitlan Collins, RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel defended that decision.
"One of the requirements right now to get on the first debate stage in August is to sign a loyalty pledge, vowing to support the eventual nominee," said Collins. "Why should Republicans be asked to support someone who could potentially be convicted of a felony?"
"Well, one, we have the presumption of innocence in this country and there is no convicted felon in the Republican field right now," said McDaniel. "I think this is a no-brainer, Kaitlan. I think anybody who's going on the Republican National Committee stage ... should pledge to the voters that once it's all done and the dust is settled and you've made your best case, if the voters choose someone else, then you need to get behind who the voters chose and make sure we that beat Joe Biden. And I think that's the number one issue I hear from voters across this country. We can't have division. We can't have people get on the debate stage who are then going to going to come out and say, I'm not going to support the eventual nominee. We have to do that. We can't win without every Republican and independents. So, in order to get on that debate stage, you should pledge to the voters that you're going to commit to beat Biden and support the nominee the voters choose."
"When will you release the text of that pledge?" asked Collins. "Will the RNC release what that loyalty pledge is going to look like?"
"We have the text of it and we've been meeting with all the candidates," said McDaniel. "This is not a shock to any candidate, Kaitlan. I love our field. They're all great. They're all going to be better than Biden. I have respect for every person throwing their hat in the ring for president. We have met with every campaign ... and that pledge is no secret. So, we'll get that out to them."
"Okay," Collins pressed her. "But do you know when?"
McDaniel did not commit to a specific date, saying only, "Very soon."
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