2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has agreed to debate Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), the latest example in a trend where Republican candidates or political figures agree to a forum with members across the aisle.
Ramaswamy agreed to debate Khanna after claiming that the Republican National Committee prevented “open debate” between himself and fellow GOP candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Sept. 27 during the second RNC debate.
Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), suggested that the two should debate live on the social media platform. However, Ramaswamy said he would be unable to do so under RNC rules, but he said he’s willing to “go for it with a smart Democrat who’s willing.”
The RNC won’t let the GOP candidates do it, but I’d go for it with a smart Democrat who’s willing.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) October 4, 2023
Khanna chimed in, taking Ramaswamy up on the offer on Wednesday.
“The University of Chicago Institute of Politics wants to have a civil discourse with the two of us on race, identity, and the American dream. I accepted. I assume, as a speech advocate, you’re game @VivekGRamaswamy?” the California congressman said on X.
The University of Chicago Institute of Politics wants to have a civil discourse with the two of us on race, identity and the American dream. I accepted. I assume, as a speech advocate, you’re game @VivekGRamaswamy? https://t.co/k9jWvzMwkY
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) October 11, 2023
Ramaswamy called Khanna a “solid dude” and said he’d be “glad to have a discussion at some point, just need to balance it in the context of campaign priorities.”
“If you are willing to do it in New Hampshire, I’m game,” Ramaswamy said.
Ramaswamy said he originally agreed to an “unfiltered discussion” about race in America with Cornel West, who recently left the Green Party to run as an independent presidential candidate.
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“He pulled out, so I think they called you after that,” the entrepreneur said.
Ramaswamy is polling fourth with a RealClearPolitics average of 6.2%. He trails former President Donald Trump, who has 58.3%; Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), with 12.9%; and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, with 7.6%. In a September CNN/University of New Hampshire poll, Ramaswamy, DeSantis, Christie, and Haley all landed about even with around 11% to 13% of the vote.
