Independents RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard to spin for Trump at debate, joining Vance and other Republicans
Harris and Trump to face off in their first and potentially only debate ahead of the 2024 presidential election, at showdown in battleground Pennsylvania
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PHILADELPHIA – Two well-known former Democrats turned independents who are backing Donald Trump will be in the spin room at Tuesday night's debate between the former president and Vice President Kamala Harris, to talk up Trump's performance.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the well-known environmental activist and vaccine skeptic who last month suspended his own presidential campaign and endorsed Trump, will be on hand at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, the Trump campaign confirmed to Fox News.
So will former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who unsuccessfully ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination before leaving the party and becoming an independent two years ago.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}KAMALA HARRIS, DONALD TRUMP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: LIVE UPDATES
Former President Trump shakes hands with former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who endorsed Trump, at the National Guard Association of the United States' 146th General Conference, Aug. 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Gabbard, who's become a favorite of many on the political right, backed Trump last month.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Joining Kennedy and Gabbard in the spin room at the debate – which is the first and potentially only face-to-face showdown between Harris and Trump before Election Day on Nov 5 – is a squad of high-profile Republicans.
Topping the list is Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
Former President Trump poses for photos with Sen. JD Vance before making remarks to a crowd on Aug. 21, 2024, in Asheboro, North Carolina. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Image)
Also in the spin room for Trump: Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump, who is the former president's daughter-in-law.
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So will former Trump rivals during the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination turned surrogates: Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Other top surrogates in the spin room will be Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida, and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Reps. Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz of Florida and Mike Waltz of Texas, and Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}News of the Trump spin room surrogates was first reported by Politico.
The Harris campaign announced that two veterans of the Trump White House - former Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci and former Homeland Security Adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence - will be in the spin room on behalf of the vice president.
The Harris campaign also confirmed to Fox News that Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Lujan Grisham of New Mexico will be in the spin room on behalf of the vice president.
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