Republican frontrunner Donald Trump’s plan to skip tonight’s Republican debate turned into a bidding war between Trump, Ted Cruz, and Carly Fiorina on Wednesday night, with big donations to veterans’ groups as the bargaining chip.
Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina offer millions to veterans’ groups — but only if Trump debates
Libby Nelson was Vox’s editorial director, politics and policy, leading coverage of how government action and inaction shape American life. Libby has more than a decade of policy journalism experience, including at Inside Higher Ed and Politico. She joined Vox in 2014.
Two Super PACs supporting Cruz, Keep the Promise I and II, offered to donate $1.5 million to veterans’ groups if Trump would meet Cruz for a one-on-one debate before the caucuses:
.@realDonaldTrump: debate #TedCruz one-on-one in Iowa before the caucuses and we will donate $1.5M to vet charities #iacaucus #greatdeal
— KeepThePromise1 (@KeepPromise1) January 28, 2016
At about the same time, Cruz sent a letter to Trump inviting him to a debate in Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday night and suggesting conservative talk show hosts Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, or Rush Limbaugh serve as moderators.
Then Fiorina decided to, in her words, “up the ante,” offering $1.5 million to veterans’ charities if Trump joined the Iowa City debate, or $2 million to debate him at his alternate event tonight:
My campaign will also donate $1.5 million to veterans' cause to join debate Saturday in Sioux City, @tedcruz @realDonaldTrump (1/2)
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) January 28, 2016
Upping the ante, I'm free tomorrow at 8pm, @realDonaldTrump. My campaign will give $2mm to veterans' cause to debate at Drake U. (2/2)
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) January 28, 2016
Veterans’ groups wanted none of it, characterizing the candidates’ offers as a cynical political ploy. The founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American said they’d decline the donation if offered:
If offered, @IAVA will decline donations from Trump's event. We need strong policies from candidates, not to be used for political stunts.
— Paul (PJ) Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) January 27, 2016
