DES MOINES, Iowa — The Republican National Committee is warning presidential candidates against attending The FAMiLY Leader's Thanksgiving Family Forum, saying it is considered an unsanctioned debate, according to RealClearPolitics.
The forum is billed as a "family discussion with presidential candidates", where candidates will be gathered around a table instead of standing at podiums.
However, in a letter obtained by RealClearPolitics, the RNC Counsel's Office cited a pledge signed by each candidate, saying in part, “Please be advised that any Republican presidential candidate who participates in this or other similar events will be deemed to have violated this pledge and will be disqualified from taking part in any future RNC-sanctioned presidential primary debates.”
Local 5 is in the process of obtaining a copy of the letter.
Drew Zahn, director of communications for The FAMiLY Leader, said in a statement to Local 5, "The FAMiLY Leader is moving forward with the event as planned. We do not agree that our Forum fits within the RNC’s “debate” restriction."
So far, Zahn says three candidates have confirmed their attendance at the forum: Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott and Vivek Ramaswamy. The organization expects Nikki Haley will also attend.
Local 5 has reached out to the candidates who told The FAMiLY Leader they would be in attendance, but have not heard back.
Now that the RNC is calling on candidates not to attend, the question arises if former President Donald Trump might see this as an opportunity.
Karen Kedrowski, a political science professor at Iowa State University, says its a possibility.
"He doesn't care if he is on the debate stage and quite frankly, he, or at least his campaign knows that he has more to lose being on the debate stage than skipping the debate," Kedrowski said.
In the original press release announcing the event, CEO Bob Vander Plaats said, "Truly this is a one-of-a-kind event, the Thanksgiving FAMiLY Forum gives us a chance to see what's in the candidates' hearts, not just what's in their plans. And coming shortly before the holiday season, it may be the last, best chance to really understand what makes these leaders tick before Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses."