UPDATE: Jeff Duclos, a publicist for Chuck Norris, said the actor did not attend the debate. This story has been changed to reflect that.
TAMPA, Fla. — Despite the rumors, a publicist for actor Chuck Norris said the tough guy did not attend Monday’s Republican presidential debate.
Earlier in the day during a brief interview, Sal Russo of Tea Party Express told The Daily Caller that Norris, who played a major role in generating excitement for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign in 2008 and contributed to the political action committee, would be attending the debate as a guest of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
But Jeff Duclos, a publicist for Chuck Norris, shot that down.
“He won’t be there,” Duclos said in an email.
During a media viewing of the debate set earlier Monday, a chair in the audience was labeled with the name tag “C. Norris.”
Dave Carney, an adviser to Perry, said after the debate that Norris did not attend the event for Perry.