DES MOINES, Iowa – As the anticipation builds for the first Republican presidential primary debate, the potential absence of former President Donald Trump doesn’t faze North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital during a stroll through the Iowa State Fair, Burgum, a millionaire former software company CEO and a dark horse candidate for the 2024 GOP nomination, expressed his enthusiasm for the debate. He stated, “We’re looking forward to the debate. We’re excited to be there, and we’re excited regardless of who shows up.”
Burgum is among the eight candidates who have met the Republican National Committee’s criteria to secure a spot on the debate stage for the Fox News-hosted event on August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This distinguished list includes not only Trump but also former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former ambassador and ex-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and entrepreneur-cum-author Vivek Ramaswamy.
“We obviously view this as an opportunity,” Burgum emphasized during the interview. “Out of the eight candidates who’ve secured a spot on the stage, we’re the least recognizable. By definition, that gives us the greatest potential for growth. We’ve already defied expectations before. When we launched, people doubted we would even make it to the debate stage. Similar doubts arose when we aimed to build a global software company in Fargo, North Dakota. And again, people doubted we could win the governorship when we were trailing by a significant margin six months before the primary. We’re confident in our position, and we’re eagerly anticipating the debate.”
Burgum’s recognition remains primarily within his home state of North Dakota, and he has embarked on a positive campaign strategy as he introduces himself to a wider audience of voters. When asked about the possibility of adopting a more confrontational approach, Burgum remarked, “Our identity is not widely known, and it’s crucial that people understand who we are, our accomplishments, and our vision for the nation. Presidential campaigns should center on the future, not the past. If the field narrows down to two candidates, then differentiating ourselves becomes important. For now, our main focus is on sharing our narrative.”
However, Burgum subtly indicated his reservations about some of his fellow contenders, questioning their qualifications for the presidency. He underlined the importance of relevant experience as a key criterion for presidential candidacy. “I believe that running for the presidency should require a certain level of relevant experience,” he stressed.
Burgum proceeded to highlight candidates who lack executive branch experience, emphasizing that the presidency essentially involves an executive role. He specified that this could pertain to serving as a governor or having private sector experience. “A significant number of Americans desire a president who comprehends the challenges faced by working citizens and understands the intricacies of meeting payroll every two weeks, a responsibility I’ve taken on since I was 26 years old,” Burgum emphasized. “Moreover, having the firsthand experience of cutting one’s own pay to ensure adequate compensation for employees is vital. These prerequisites are what we believe resonate with voters.”