Trump looks to grab attention as GOP rivals debate

Trump reiterated his plans to skip the debate in an interview Wednesday on Fox News, saying, “I just don’t like being used”.

On the eve of the final debate before Iowa voters weigh in, Trump refused to back off his decision to boycott Thursday’s prime-time faceoff. “I’m delighted to join with Donald Trump in an effort to salute veterans”, the former Arkansas governor told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Thursday.

Another Republican candidate, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, said he wanted to focus on keeping the party united in order to beat Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state, if she becomes the Democratic nominee.

Trump has led the Republican race nationally for months, to the surprise of many.

Trump has a genuine battle on his hands in Iowa with ultra-conservative Senator Ted Cruz, his nearest GOP rival, trailing by about five percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average of recent Iowa polls.

Given Mr Trump’s unpredictable nature, some campaigns were preparing for the possibility he could reverse course and take the stage in Des Moines after all.

“He will…raise money for the Veterans and Wounded Warriors, who have been treated so horribly by our all talk, no action politicians”, the Trump campaign said in a statement released Tuesday night.

Trump has substituted mass rallies for normal meet-and-greet events, made inflammatory statements that would have sunk other candidates, and spent much of his time giving his views on television news shows and Twitter. “I don’t think she’s very good at what she does”, Trump said. “He’s betting on him making a bigger splash”. Earlier Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski gave ABC News an unlikely scenario: “If he’s the last man standing and it comes down to a two-person race Donald Trump will be happy to debate him”.

Others on the debate stage will have their eye on New Hampshire, where they are hoping a strong showing in the February 9 primary will jump-start their White House hopes. Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have all devoted the bulk of their campaign resources to New Hampshire.

Huckabee, who didn’t qualify for the primetime debate, is still expected to participate in the undercard debate and then attend the event afterwards. He’s been upset with Fox over what he calls unfair treatment from debate moderator Megyn Kelly and a sarcastic tweet from the network.