I personally think Gingrich’s advice is not only bad but crazy, voters want to see their candidates debate each other, in an open forum.
Trump showed up in 2016 and destroyed his rivals and gave himself the momentum to wrap up the nomination fairly quickly.
If he doesn’t go, his opponents will trash him anyway for being scared to face his rivals and any other criticism they can come up with. Trump will be reduced to responding on social media, which you know he will.
Then Trump and his rivals will be in this tit for tat debate war and not over real policy positions.
No one will know if they trash him because no one will be watching. Look at thr level of enthusiasm for the NJ primary when Trump didn’t have a horse in the rave. No one cares. I’d say font go to the first few and let them split the vote with Desanctimonius a bit more first. Then he can jump in later to push his messaging.
Debate? These things are staged events, with "reporters" asking Trump a series of 'gatcha questions'. They're a public farce that discerning Americans should avoid.
DeSantis and his supporters strongly agree that their only chance is for Trump to be smitten by an FNC collaborator.
Trump is in the position of calling the shots as to where, when, and with which moderator to debate.
And no mandatory pledge to the RNC!
ETTU Newt?