DNC launch anti-GOP ads outside Reagan Library as Republicans debate
Supporters of former US president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gather near the entrance to the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, on September 27, 2023, ahead of the second Republica primary debate which the former president will not attend.
Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images
The Democratic National Committee is launching two anti-GOP advertisements outside the Reagan Library as seven candidates prepare to debate.
The DNC announced Wednesday that they plan to fly an aerial banner around the debate site right up until the start of the event. The banner will say “GOP 2024: A Race For The Extreme MAGA Base,” according to the DNC.
The committee, which is supporting President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection effort, also plans to run a mobile billboard around the Reagan Library as the debate takes place.
Similar to the aerial banner, the mobile advertisement tries to link the seven Republican candidates to former President Donald Trump, who is not taking part in tonight’s debate.
— Brian Schwartz
Nikki Haley goes on digital ad spree day of debate
Republican presidential candidate, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers a speech on her economic policy at the New England Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College on September 22, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Scott Eisen | Getty Images
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley went on a digital advertisement publishing spree on Wednesday, hours before the second Republican debate in California.
Haley, who will be on the debate stage Wednesday night, published different ads on X and the Meta platforms of Facebook and Instagram. For Haley, tonight’s debate could serve as a crucial moment for her to move up in the polls and keep raising enough campaign cash to stay in the race. Former President Donald Trump leads the GOP primary field with 58% of support, while Haley is at 7%, according to a Morning Consult tracker.
Haley’s advertisement published on her X page Wednesday morning depicts her as a fighter and not a stranger to taking on what she calls “bullies.”
The Haley ads on Meta’s platforms that started running Wednesday ask for donors to give at least $7.99, according to the Meta digital ad library. With that, contributors can get a Haley t-shirt.
— Brian Schwartz
Tim Scott leads candidates who qualified for the second debate in ad support
Republican presidential candidate U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) speaks at a campaign town hall meeting in Salem, New Hampshire, U.S., July 18, 2023.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. may not be leading in the Republican primary polls but is going into tonight’s debate leading in ad support.
Scott has seen over $51 million through Wednesday in ad support, according to AdImpact.
AdImpact calculated the total amount spent in support of all seven candidates who qualified for the second debate. The totals reflect how much each campaign and outside political action committees have spent on ads in favor of their candidates.
Second to Scott is Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis with $39 million, followed by former President Donald Trump with $27 million in supportive ad spending.
Trump is skipping tonight’s debate. He leads the Republican primary field with 58% of support, according to Morning Consult.
— Brian Schwartz
Trump en route to court autoworkers amid UAW strike — with speech at nonunion company
Guests arrive for a campaign event with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Drake Enterprises, an automotive parts manufacturer, on September 27, 2023 in Clinton Township, Michigan.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
Trump said he is on his way to Detroit to deliver a speech aimed at blue-collar workers — especially auto workers, thousands of whom are on strike from top carmakers’ plants as they demand better pay and hours.
But Trump, who seeks the endorsement of the union leading the strike, will be speaking at a nonunion auto parts factory.
The decision drew condemnation from United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, who called it a “pathetic irony.”
“I don’t think the man has any bit of care about what our workers stand for, what the working class stands for,” Fain said Tuesday night on CNN.
Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing his departure for Michigan, “I LOVE, & WILL SAVE, THE AUTOWORKERS.”
He is scheduled to speak at 8 p.m. ET at Drake Enterprises in Clinton Township.
Trump is skipping his second straight chance to confront, and be confronted by, his GOP rivals in a live televised debate.
His campaign event is purposely scheduled to counter-program the Republican debate.
— Kevin Breuninger
How to watch the second Republican debate
Guests arrive for a campaign event with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Drake Enterprises, an automotive parts manufacturer, on September 27, 2023 in Clinton Township, Michigan.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
The second Republican debate for the 2024 GOP primary for president is set to kick off Wednesday night at 9 p.m. Eastern Time from the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.
The debate will air on Fox News Channel and Fox Business, as well as through Fox’s digital streaming platforms and Rumble.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., have all qualified for the debate.
Former President Donald Trump is skipping the Wednesday night event.
— Brian Schwartz
