Vivek Ramaswamy Mad About Likely Not Qualifying For CNN's Iowa Debate

The 2024 GOP candidate and his self-funded campaign have struggled in recent weeks.

GOP presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy, whose poll numbers are likely too low to allow him to participate in CNN’s upcoming GOP presidential debate in Iowa, lashed out at the network on Tuesday.

In a statement, the biotech entrepreneur claimed that the polling requirements amount to “a desperate bid by CNN to limit the scope of debate in the Republican presidential primary and to prop up the least conservative and most corrupt candidate in the race (Nikki Haley),” referring to the former U.N. ambassador who is also in the 2024 GOP contest.

Ramaswamy said he’ll be attending a competing event with conservative podcaster Tim Pool in Des Moines instead.

To qualify for the Jan. 10 debate, each candidate must be polling at least 10% in three surveys, including one CNN poll of likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers. Ramaswamy has consistently polled well under 10%, and Tuesday’s attack against CNN is likely a bid to preempt the network’s debate announcement.

Ramaswamy’s self-funded campaign has struggled in recent weeks. It stopped spending money on television ads, a major way of getting your message out in early-nominating states. Ramaswamy instead seems to be adopting a strategy of bashing the media and sharing conspiracy theories to draw eyeballs.