[Tucker39]

If Trump starts by winning the Iowa caucus, and continues to win the subsequent primaries; what’s the incentive for Trump to debate anybody? OTOH, if that starts happening; neither Cruz nor anyone else has anything to lose if they go one on one.

Sure they’d like a crack at the winner, just for the chance to maybe land a lucky punch. But why should Trump waste his time like that. They have all had 6 months and 6 debates to make their case. Trump has no obligation to give any one of his opponents any free punches.

[JediJones]

That’s a fair point, but Trump hasn’t won a primary yet.

[Zhang Fei]

If Trump starts by winning the Iowa caucus, and continues to win the subsequent primaries; what’s the incentive for Trump to debate anybody? OTOH, if that starts happening; neither Cruz nor anyone else has anything to lose if they go one on one. Sure they’d like a crack at the winner, just for the chance to maybe land a lucky punch. But why should Trump waste his time like that. They have all had 6 months and 6 debates to make their case. Trump has no obligation to give any one of his opponents any free punches.

That's why Reagan skipped the Iowa debates. The result? He lost the state despite being a near-native son who started his radio station career there. He never skipped a debate after that.

[DoodleDawg]

If Trump starts by winning the Iowa caucus, and continues to win the subsequent primaries; what’s the incentive for Trump to debate anybody? OTOH, if that starts happening; neither Cruz nor anyone else has anything to lose if they go one on one.

If he wins Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina then I agree, there is nothing in it for him. But he hasn't won them yet, has he? Cruz is still his main opponent, the only one who has a decent shot at upsetting Trump's plans. So why not drive a stake through his heart and whip him in a one-on-one debate between New Hampshire and Iowa? He could end it once and for all if he can out think, out maneuver, out debate Ted Cruz head-to-head. Trump would conclusively prove that Cruz is a loser. Isn't that worth it? Or is Trump afraid of embarrassing himself?