00:00 Well, the 1st 2024 Republican presidential debate takes place tonight in Milwaukee.
00:05 There are eight candidates on the stage, but the front runner, former President Trump,
00:09 will not be there. Sources tell ABC News the former president is planning to counter-program
00:14 the debate. ABC's Justin Finch reports from Washington. In Wisconsin's largest city,
00:21 final preps for tonight's Republican presidential debate. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and
00:26 businessman Vivek Ramaswamy are set to take center stage. Ramaswamy on CNN.
00:32 Many people in this country didn't even know who I was six months ago, so this is a good
00:36 opportunity for me to introduce myself to the country. The party's inaugural debate of the 2024
00:42 campaign cycle pressing ahead without Donald Trump. Donald Trump is the leader, and if you
00:48 want to be number one, you have to take on the person who is number one. The former president
00:54 justifying his absence with recent polling showing he's the clear front runner by wide margins.
01:00 I've made no secret of the fact that I want him on that debate stage.
01:04 The eight candidates attending had to meet the Republican National Committee's polling
01:09 and donor requirements. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has qualified,
01:14 on conservative channel Newsmax, slamming Trump's decision to skip tonight's debate.
01:19 Because he didn't have the guts or the respect to show up on that stage and defend his record
01:26 and advocate for the future of America. People will make a decision based on the future of
01:30 their family, not what's going on in the legal entanglements of the former president.
01:35 In Milwaukee, some voters are looking for a Trump alternative.
01:39 I think he's got to hang it up. He's not going to win if he gets the nomination.
01:47 Sources familiar tell ABC News that Trump pre-taped an interview with former Fox host
01:53 Tucker Carlson that is set to stream online as the debate airs live on Fox.
01:59 Though Trump will be absent tonight, his campaign says he will have top advisors
02:05 and surrogates in Milwaukee representing him in the debate spin room,
02:09 thanks to invitations from some media outlets. Justin Finch, ABC News, Washington.
