Vivek Ramaswamy says he’s in for third RNC debate despite criticism of rules

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy’s presidential campaign said Monday that he will attend next week’s third Republican primary debate despite taking issue with the Republican National Committee’s rules and publicly questioning whether he would make an appearance.

“While the last two debates were not terribly useful, neither in substance nor viewership, Vivek has never shied away from debate in any forum. In that spirit, and with a leaner stage, Vivek looks forward to the next debate on Nov. 8,” spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told The Post.

The 38-year-old multimillionaire had not previously committed to going to the Nov. 8 Miami showdown, telling Fox News earlier this month that he was “considering my options.”

Ramaswamy ripped the RNC after it banned the White House hopeful from participating in a one-on-one debate against former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Fox News, citing a pledge by candidates not to take part in non-RNC-sanctioned discussions.

After the second RNC debate in late September, Ramaswamy’s campaign sent a memo to the RNC calling for the committee to revise its rules “so that Republican voters can focus on serious candidates” capable of beating President Biden.

Ramaswamy demanded the RNC limit participation to the top four candidates apart from former President Donald Trump — who has skipped out on all the debates thus far — and to raise the unique donor threshold from 70,000 to 100,000.

He also called for giving the competitors more time to speak and to have a single moderator who “is able to enforce debate rules.”

The RNC has not announced any changes to its debate rules based on Ramaswamy’s arguments.

So far, the campaigns of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have claimed their candidates have qualified for the third debate.

Former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out of the race on Saturday and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has not yet said whether he has reached the minimum thresholds.

To qualify for the third debate, candidates will also have to poll at at least 4% in two national polls or in one national and one early state poll. The 2024 contenders will also have to have 70,000 unique donors from a minimum of 20 states or territories and at least 200 donors in each of those jurisdictions.