Fox News has an extra podium ready on the side of the stage in case an “eighth person shows up” to the debate Thursday night.
{mosads}Republican front-runner Donald Trump is not planning to attend the debate, just four days before the Iowa caucuses. Instead of going to the debate, he said he will hold an event at the same time just three miles away that will raise money for veterans.
“We don’t know what the percentage is that he may actually show up before 9 p.m. eastern time, but we’re prepared,” news anchor Bret Baier said on Fox News Thursday night.
Trump has been engaged in an ongoing feud with Fox News and anchor Megyn Kelly since the first debate in August.
He still leads in the polls both nationally and in Iowa. He has a 6.8 point lead in Iowa over his closest competitor, Ted Cruz, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls.