Trump campaign cuts back on debate surrogate presence as polling climbs

Former President Donald Trump‘s campaign is dialing back its efforts to promote him at the second Republican debate, instead focusing on Michigan, where he will be speaking Wednesday, and on the general election rather than the Republican primary.

During the first Republican National Committee debate last month, high-profile Trump endorsers and campaign staff descended on the event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, occupying the spin room alongside surrogates for the candidates who attended the debate. The surrogate blitz took place despite Trump’s absence, who instead sat for an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which was published minutes before the start of the debate.

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Speculation swirled ahead of the event as to whether his decision to skip the debate would come back to hurt his chances with Republican voters. However, since the debate, Trump’s already staggering polling lead over competitors has increased.

Now, the campaign plans to have a “much smaller footprint” at the second debate. The Trump surrogates at the event will be former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, senior Trump advisor Chris LaCivita, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, his campaign confirmed. At August’s debate, Lake was joined by Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., and Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Byron Donalds (R-FL), as well as LaCivita, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller and Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung.

For Trump’s team, the focus is squarely on Michigan this time around. Just one hour ahead of the debate, Trump will deliver remarks to current and former United Auto Workers union members as the group continues its strike against the “Big Three” automakers, Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.

“Tonight’s focus is on Michigan. Nobody wants to hear from Ron DeSanctimonious or any of the other wannabe candidates,” Miller said.

The campaign’s choice to shift focus from the debate to Trump’s voter outreach in the Midwest among union workers signifies a simultaneous shift from campaigning against primary foes to campaigning against President Joe Biden. The transition can also be seen in Trump’s recent abortion remarks, reverting to a stance of leaving the decision to the states and emphasizing that Republican politicians do not know how to discuss such a complex issue. The former president and his campaign have been noticeably less eager to take shots at primary opponents and more interested in framing the battle as being between Biden and Trump.

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The debate takes place Wednesday at 9 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California, and seven candidates will take the stage, including Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Vice President Mike Pence, Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Trump’s Michigan remarks to workers are set to begin at 8 p.m.