The first debate of the Republican presidential primaries is now just days away. There is still uncertainty about who will take part — there have been reports that former President Donald Trump, who leads second-place Gov. Ron DeSantis by 40 points, will skip the event. But Trump could always change his mind.

As first debate approaches, is GOP race already over?

Byron York is chief political correspondent for the Washington Examiner, a Fox News contributor, and host of The Byron York Show podcast. He has covered the Bush, Obama, Trump, and now Biden administrations, as well as Congress and each presidential campaign since 2000. He is the author of two books -- The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy, an account of liberal activism in the 2004 election, and Obsession, an account of Democratic efforts to remove President Donald Trump from office. Formerly White House correspondent for National Review, his work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Atlantic Monthly, Foreign Affairs, and the New Republic. A graduate of the University of Alabama and the University of Chicago, he lives in Washington, DCSubscribe to the newsletter here: https://newsletters.washingtonexaminer.com/newsletters/daily-memo/

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As first debate approaches, is GOP race already over?

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