Republican candidates pool tightens in Tuscaloosa at latest GOP debate
DeSantis, Haley, Ramaswamy, and Christie were on stage at the fourth GOP debate, with Trump ahead in the polls.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Multiple news organizations said Thursday they will sponsor a series of Republican debates next month in Iowa and New Hampshire ahead of the states’ crucial primary contests.
CNN said it will host debates next month in both Iowa and New Hampshire, the first events of their kind not sponsored by the Republican National Committee.
The Iowa debate is being organized for Wednesday, Jan. 10, five days before the caucuses that open the delegate selection process, the outlet said in an announcement. In addition, ABC News and WMUR-TV of Manchester, New Hampshire, announced they would sponsor a debate on Jan. 18.
CNN’s New Hampshire debate is planned for Sunday, Jan. 21, two days before the primary in the Granite State.
“The events will provide Republican voters an opportunity to hear the governing philosophies of the leading candidates seeking to challenge the likely Democratic presidential nominee, President Joe Biden, in November,” CNN said.
When is the next GOP debate? Who qualifies?
The Jan. 10 Iowa debate is scheduled to be held at Drake University in Des Moines; CNN’s New Hampshire event is planned for Jan. 21 at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire.
“To qualify for participation in the Iowa debate,” CNN said, “candidates must receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting…One of the three polls must be an approved CNN poll of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers.”
As for New Hampshire, debate qualifiers must “receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or New Hampshire polls of Republican primary voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting,” the network said.
CNN announced its plans even though, so far, the RNC has forbidden candidates from participating in events it does not sponsor; but the organization is thinking about dropping that rule.
An RNC committee is meeting next week to decide what to do about future debates.
One overriding question: Will former president and 2024 frontrunner Donald Trump participate? He skipped the four debates sponsored by the RNC.