Bachmann, Perry Say “No” to Donald Trump Moderated Debate

The Donald Trump moderated NewsMax GOP Debate on December 27 is down to just two participating GOP Presidential Candidates after Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann announced today they will not be attending. Only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have said they will participate:

DAILY CALLER: It looks like former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will be the only candidates joining Donald Trump for the reality television star’s presidential debate.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Texas Gov. Rick Perry both declined invitations Thursday to the Newsmax debate scheduled for two days after Christmas, ABC News reports. Trump is scheduled to moderate the debate and then announce his endorsement for the candidate he likes the best.

Almost all the candidates have met with Trump in New York in search of his endorsement, but most of the candidates — including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman — have declined to attend the event. The debate, to be held in Des Moines, Iowa, would take place just six days before the Iowa caucuses. . . . Read More

It will be interesting to see if this debate takes place at all with just two candidates. I think this is a huge mistake by Bachmann and Perry especially, since they are both floundering in the polls. They need every chance they can get to get attention and hit a home run. Instead, they are turning down a chance to do just that.