North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will participate in the first GOP presidential primary debate on Wednesday despite suffering a last-minute leg injury, according to Fox News.
The incident reportedly occurred Tuesday night while the candidate was playing basketball with campaign staff. He was taken to the emergency room and later learned that he had suffered a high-grade tear of his Achilles tendon.
Discussing Mr. Burgum’s injury Wednesday morning, his campaign spokesman Lance Trover said it was “unclear if he will be able to stand at the debate.”
But according to hosting network Fox News, the candidate has since confirmed his participation in the event, which is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
“I’ve played lots of pick-up games in my day! This isn’t the first time one has sent me to the ER. Appreciate all the well-wishes!” the 67-year-old governor wrote Wednesday morning in an X post.
Later that afternoon, he was filmed checking out the debate stage, supported by crutches.
“They’ve got strong podiums and they’ve got them bolted to the floor, so hopefully, that will provide the support I need,” he told NBC.
Critical Moment
The first debate marks a pivotal moment for Mr. Burgum’s campaign. As one of the lesser-known candidates in the race, the opportunity to introduce himself to voters could prove invaluable to his presidential aspirations.According to the RealClearPolitics average of polls, he is currently polling in ninth place at 0.6 percent. In comparison, President Donald Trump, the frontrunner, is at 55.4 percent.
But as President Trump has promised to skip Wednesday night’s debate, the event could present a unique opportunity for his challengers to step into the spotlight.
