Trump takes risk by skipping debate, challenging Murdoch

January 29, 2016 00:39

Donald Trump will draw a ruptured U.S. Republican Party into a prime time TV ratings battle on Thursday night, as the billionaire presidential hopeful shuns a Fox News-sponsored debate to star in his own event at the same time.

His decision to boycott the Republican debate in a spat with network anchor Megyn Kelly threatens to pit the large conservative base of the party's front-runner against the most powerful media force in Republican politics -- in a fight that may overshadow anything that happens on the debate stage.

"The 'debate' tonight will be a total disaster," Trump quipped in a Twitter post on Thursday morning. "Low ratings with advertisers and advertising rates dropping like a rock. I hate to see this."

Trump will host a fundraiser for veterans at Drake University in Des Moines during the Fox debate, according to an invitation circulated by his campaign. A CNN source said the network would likely air parts of the Trump event live.

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