While hot button positions are volleyed in tonight's third GOP presidential debate in Miami — the Southern Border, Ukraine, inflation — there's a heated race behind-the-scenes to pack the house with the most Jews or those most sensitive to Israel's plight.
Hours before a leaner Republican field jockeys on stage to win the 2024 nomination for president (or try to usurp the front-running no-show 45th president Donald Trump who will be rallying about 12 miles away in Hialeah, Florida), at least two of the candidates are already flexing their Jewish clout.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) announced that he has invited 20 Jewish students drawn from "University of South Carolina, University of Miami, and a local South Florida high school," according to a release.
“As hate and antisemitism proliferate on college campuses across our country, it is more important than ever to educate the minds of our next generation with thoughtful debate and discussion,” Tim Scott stated during the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Leadership Summit. “I look forward to sharing my optimistic vision for our country with these students and all Americans. Together, we will stand against hate and lead our nation into the next American century.”
Not one to be outflanked in his home state, Gov. Ron DeSantis also announced his own contingent that he hopes will attend the Wednesday primetime showdown inside the 2,200-capacity building of the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall where he'll be debating a shrinking field of contenders.
DeSantis' campaign confirmed to CBS News that the governor asked several of the passengers who boarded privately chartered flights from the Sunshine State to bring home Americans stuck in Israel since fighting unleashed falling the Oct. 7 attacks led by Hamas.
Meanwhile, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy didn't see fit to cherry-pick any specific groups of supporters to cheer him on during the debate.
"We aren't inviting people based on race, religion, ethnicity or any class, people who love this country," he told the outlet.
DeSantis and Ramaswamy will be making their cases to the American people among the remaining candidates in the third debate featuring Scott, but also former South Carolina Gov. and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Both North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, didn't meet the qualifications to appear in the event.
Last week, former Vice President Mike Pence suspended his campaign for the Oval Office gig.
