ABC News Reveals Plans for Republican Debate Ahead of New Hampshire Primary
ABC News has confirmed that it will be hosting a Republican debate on Jan. 18 at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire. This falls just five days before the state’s primary, and the network will disclose further details about the debate format and selection process for candidates at a later date.
Kim Godwin, President of ABC News, expressed excitement about the upcoming debate, saying, “Our powerhouse political team has been working hard on this debate to provide our audience with the opportunity to hear from the candidates at this decisive moment in the primary race.” The event is being organized in collaboration with the New Hampshire Republican State Committee.
Chris Ager, Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, also chimed in, stating that the committee is looking forward to working alongside ABC News, WMUR, and Saint Anselm College to bring the debate to fruition, subject to RNC guidelines.
In a significant development, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has decided to permit candidates to take part in unsanctioned debates, a departure from their previous stance. This comes after the RNC had initially prohibited candidates from participating in debates not approved by the organization.
On the same day as ABC News’ announcement, CNN also announced two debates ahead of the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. The first debate will be on Jan. 10 in Iowa, and the second is scheduled for Jan. 21 in New Hampshire.
To qualify for the CNN debates, candidates must meet specific criteria, including reaching 10 percent in three separate polls of GOP voters in either Iowa or New Hampshire. While this favors certain candidates, it places others at a disadvantage.
For instance, former South Carolina governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would qualify for the debates based on these criteria, while other candidates such as entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, would not.
DeSantis has confirmed his participation in the Iowa debate, expressing his anticipation for the event. While he has not yet confirmed his attendance at the New Hampshire debate, he has indicated that he will be present.
As for the former South Carolina governor, her campaign has declined to comment on whether she will participate in the CNN debates or the ABC News debate.
The eligibility requirements for these debates also include being a U.S. citizen, filing with the Federal Election Commission, and agreeing to abide by the debate rules.
The absence of former President Donald Trump at the CNN debates is likely, given his previous rejection of participating in debates and his public criticism of the network. However, he did participate in a CNN-hosted town hall in June, moderated by Kaitlan Collins.
The moderators for the CNN debates have not been announced, leaving room for speculation about who will helm these crucial events. With the New Hampshire primary fast approaching, the upcoming debates are sure to be pivotal in shaping the trajectory of the Republican primary race.
