Well, I disagree. The first sanctioned debate has occurred. The campaign has started.
It’s my opinion for sure, as I’m sure the rules are spelled out somewhere specifically for these issues.
The RNC and the state parties are completely different creatures. State parties are not compelled in any way to respect anything the RNC does, they are completely independent - and often at odds with the national committee.
The rules ARE spelled out, and they say that the state parties can pretty much do whatever the hell they want to do. State parties are wholly autonomous and don’t have to listen to anybody but their own governance structures.
Get involved in party politics, you’ll see for yourself how it works. When I lived in Virginia I was deeply involved and I know the names of these individuals and their significance and what factions they belong to and who they are allied with.