Campaign Almanac: RNC, Iowa Christian group reach agreement on candidate forum

The Republican National Committee will allow presidential candidates to attend The Family Leader’s Thanksgiving forum, backing away from its prior warning to candidates that participating in the event could lead to disqualification from future debates.

The RNC and The Family Leader have reportedly agreed on the format for the Christian conservative organization's Nov. 17 forum.

The Family Leader Foundation invited the top five major Republican presidential candidates to its “Thanksgiving Family Forum” in Des Moines. The RNC initially said the proposed format constituted an unsanctioned debate, and in a letter first reported by RealClearPolitics warned campaigns their attendance at the Family Leader event would disqualify them from future debates.

RNC rules prohibit candidates from attending any debate that is not organized by the party.

Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of the Family Leader, over the weekend posted to social media site X, formerly Twitter, that he and the RNC came to an agreement on the forum.

The RNC and I have agreed on the format of @TheFamilyLeader November 17 Thanksgiving FAMiLY Forum. The Forum is NOT a debate. Thus, the RNC is giving a thumbs up for candidates to participate. Thanks to the RNC for facilitating a win/win for the process. #ChooseWell2024

— Bob Vander Plaats (@bobvanderplaats) November 11, 2023

“The RNC and I have agreed on the format of @TheFamilyLeader November 17 Thanksgiving FAMiLY Forum. The Forum is NOT a debate. Thus, the RNC is giving a thumbs up for candidates to participate. Thanks to the RNC for facilitating a win/win for the process. #ChooseWell2024,” Vander Plaats posted Saturday.

Family Leader spokesperson Drew Zahn said in an email the “RNC has relented on its previous position and agreed to the format of the Forum as planned.”

Five Republican candidates — former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations ambassador Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy — were invited to the forum.

Zahn said three of the five invited candidates — DeSantis, Scott and Ramaswamy — had confirmed plans to attend. Scott, however, has since dropped out of the race.

He said Trump is unlikely to accept, and said the group expects to announce Haley's confirmation shortly.

“We expect to have three candidates on stage, around the table at the same time, for a civil and insightful conversation moderated by Bob Vander Plaats,” Zahn said.

An RNC spokesperson on Monday confirmed it is OK with candidates attending The Family Leader forum.

Vander Plaats said on Fox News last week that he may consider endorsing a candidate after the forum. While he has not publicly endorsed a candidate so far, he has been critical of Trump.

“After we have that conversation with the candidates, our board, my team and myself, we’ll just get a chance to discern if this is the time for us to weigh in or not,” he said.

Haley announces $10 million ad buy in Iowa, New Hampshire

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Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley’s Republican presidential campaign announced Monday plans to reserve $10 million in television, radio and digital advertising across Iowa and New Hampshire beginning in the first week of December as she jockeys with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to emerge as the clear GOP alternative to former President Donald Trump.

In a statement announcing the ad buy, Haley’s campaign was critical of DeSantis’ operation and asserted that she’s “the only candidate other than Donald Trump who is positioned to do well” in Iowa and New Hampshire.

In an email sent Monday, SFA Fund, a super PAC supporting Haley in the race, noted Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting DeSantis, recently canceled ad buys in Iowa and New Hampshire during November.

DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo, speaking to the Associated Press, dismissed the jabs by the Haley campaign.

“We are confident the Iowa voters will see who will best represent them and their values,” he said.

The sizable ad buy by the Haley team comes as the Republican presidential field continues to narrow. Former Vice President Mike Pence suspended his presidential campaign late last month, and South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott announced late Sunday that he was doing the same.

“Nikki Haley’s momentum and path to victory are clear,” Haley for President campaign manager Betsy Ankney said in a statement. “ … Nikki’s campaign is built to win the primary against Donald Trump and all polls show she is by far the strongest Republican against Joe Biden in the general. After Republican losses in 2020, 2022, and 2023, it’s time to leave behind the chaos and drama of the past and nominate a new generation of conservative leadership.”

An October Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll showed 43 percent of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers pick Trump as their first choice for president, with DeSantis and Haley tied for second at 16 percent.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau