WASHINGTON — What would you rather do than watch tonight’s third GOP presidential debate?
Dinner with friends? Laundry? Sleep? Play with your kids?
If you answered any of the above, you may be a Republican U.S. senator. Ahead of tonight’s debate — frontrunner Donald Trump will again be a no-show — Raw Story asked 32 Republican senators their plans this eve. Most gave their party’s prime time soirée a resounding shrug.
“Debate? I didn’t know there was one,” Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) told Raw Story.
“We’ll see if there’s a good basketball game on,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) told Raw Story.
“No. I’d rather hang out with my kids,” Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) told Raw Story.
Does it not matter because Trump’s not there?
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“You know, the winner may very well be appointed secretary of the Interior, so that’s one reason to watch it,” Vance quipped.
Of the 32 Republican senators Raw Story asked, only three were firmly planning to tune in, including Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), who says it’s must-watch-TV.
“I want to see who our likely vice presidential nominee is going to be,” Lummis told Raw Story through her signature hearty laugh as she walked into a mostly empty U.S. Senate chamber.
For at least one former presidential contender, the debate seems to be more homework – or a cheat sheet? – than anything else.
“Oh yeah,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told Raw Story. “I’ll watch it, and tomorrow morning, I’ll do a podcast with my thoughts on it.”
After having withstood the bright presidential debate lights himself, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), the GOP’s 2012 presidential standard bearer, says debates are now fun.
“I usually do enjoy watching my friends go through the gauntlet of a debate,” Romney told Raw Story. “It’s unfortunate President Trump's not there. I don’t know why he’s chickening out, but I guess it's good politics for him.”
Romney isn’t expecting a game changer for any of the Republican candidates not named “Trump.” But he still thinks the exercise in policy contrasts and political pugilism is important.
“It’s not gonna move the needle for President Trump, but it might make it clear as to which would be the strongest competitor,” Romney said.
Another 10 or so Republicans say they’re open to watching the debate, though they don’t have firm plans to do so.
“I hopefully will,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told Raw Story.
“Probably will. I stay current,” Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) told Raw Story. “There’s always some entertainment or something.”
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Sen. Lisa Murkoskwi (R-AK) isn’t planning to tune in, although she’s braced for it after a television remote mishap during the second debate.
“Last time, I turned it on accidentally,” Murkowski told Raw Story.
At least one Republican says he may listen to it on his radio. But his chores come first.
“I don’t have a TV, so I might just listen to it,” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) told Raw Story. “But I have things to do.”
Anything super pressing?
“I do have to wash clothes,” Cassidy said. “Just activities of daily living.”
With the debate earlier than the last two, the Senate’s oldest member thinks he may get to squeeze an hour of it in before bed time.
“What time is it on?” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked.
“I think tonight’s earlier, I think it’s 8-10 EST,” Raw Story replied. “I think all the last ones were at 9.”
“Probably watch it til 9,” the 90-year-old senator said.
Poor Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). Although several Senate Republicans says it’s nothing personal against Scott — or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and the others on the stage — Scott is an actual Senate colleague who works with them day after day.
While the Senate’s number two GOP leader has plans, he also hopes to catch part of the GOP debate, because he said it affects the party back here in Washington.
While the Senate’s number two Republican leader has plans, he also hopes to catch part of the GOP debate.
“We’ll see, if I get back in time I will,” Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the Republican whip, told Raw Story. “I don’t know. We’ll see. Somebody out of that group, I think, is going to emerge as an alternative to the former president. Knowing who’s saying what and what they think the issues are – they’ve been out on the campaign trail – I think it’s good for all of us. It informs our decision making here.”
