In a debate between Democratic and Republican strategists on CNN, the Dems speculated that Donald Trump can't cut it in Republican primary debates, and that's why he's not participating.
During the 2016 presidential election, Trump participated in every debate, even when it was clear he could win the Republican nomination. This time around, he hasn't appeared in any.
Another question concerns the number of Trump rallies over the past year. Trump officially announced he was running again on Nov. 16, 2022. The big rallies he's known for having several times a week in the past year were significantly cut. In Iowa, he's held about a dozen events, and fewer than 10 in New Hampshire.
"In total, Trump has held 42 campaign events across the country, a stark contrast from Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, each having hosted well over 100 campaign events so far this year," ABC News reported in September, counting speeches, rallies and fundraisers.
During the 2020 election, Trump was furious he couldn't hold rallies immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic began. He was jet-setting off to public events even as president until the COVID crisis.
Republican strategist Alice Stewart said that Americans simply don't think Biden has the "stamina," but the Dems said that the truth might be the other way around.
"This is exactly why the Biden campaign is now starting to really underscore this and to point this out because of what Chuck said. Trump is not in these debates," said Democratic strategist Maria Cardona. "I completely agree. I think he's not in these debates because his handlers know this is what people will see. The more we remind people what Trump, not just did for four years, but who he will be and what he will do if he's allowed in the Oval Office again, that is going to scare voters. That is going to allow for the Biden campaign to make the contrast between him and a crazy Trump, a racist Trump, a xenophobic Trump, an out-of-control Trump, which is exactly what the American people resoundingly rejected in 2020."
Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha, who ran a campaign against Joe Biden in 2020, said that he criticizes Biden when he feels like he needs to. One of those criticisms is that Biden has created 14 million jobs, but no one knows about it because Biden hasn't done a victory lap. One year out from the election, Biden is starting up the campaign with ads about the economy and jobs he's brought back from the brink of collapse.
Rocha also remarked that while people think Biden — who is 80 — might be old, they think Trump "is old and crazy."
See the conversation in the video below or the link here.
Trump isn't in debates because handlers know he doesn't have stamina: Dem strategistwww.youtube.com
