ABC set the entry standards: The top three finishers in Iowa, the top six in national polling, and the top six in New Hampshire polling were invited to participate. Marco Rubio, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
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The first seven Republican debates featured an undercard forum for lower-polling candidates, but ABC previously announced that no such debate would be held this time. But Fiorina, despite pulling 1.9% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses to top both Christie and Kasich, is out. As Mitt Romney tweeted, Fiorina outperformed Chris Christie in Iowa and got about as many votes as Jim Gilmore and John Kasich combined. “Don’t exclude only woman”, Romney tweeted Thursday.
Under card mainstays – Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Sen.
“Our debate process is broken”, the only female Republican candidate writes to party Chairman Reince Priebus and other members of the Republican National Committee.
The RNC letter and interview with Todd were just two elements of her lobbying campaign: She made her case in other interviews and tried to gin up support on social media. Rick Santorum, along with Sen.
ABC News is partnering with ABC affiliate WMUR, Independent Journal Review, the Republican National Committee and Saint Anselm College to host “New Hampshire: The Republicans Debate” on Saturday, February 6, 2016. Carly Fiorina, despite having more cash on hand, and having beat out several of those who did qualify for the debate, didn’t make the cut. It’s a back room deal and meanwhile, I think, the voters of New Hampshire believe that it’s their job to pick presidents, vet candidates and win on the field so I’ll keep talking for them.
“And the voters of New Hampshire ought to be ticked because apparently ABC and the RNC are saying, ‘No, you can’t make up your minds three days before the primary”, Fiorina continued.
ABC News announced its criteria for Saturday night’s debate in late January. Duprey says he’s spoken with the network and Fiorina’s campaign, but ultimately does not have control over who makes the stage. A pro-Fiorina super PAC, CARLY for America, launched a petition on her behalf, which she and her staff also promoted. I can’t even imagine – you know, what the explanation would be.
Calls to ABC News for comment were not immediately returned. “I think that they should let her debate”.
Rubio’s third-place finish in Iowa gave him the edge among those candidates viewed as more mainstream alternatives to Trump and Texas Sen.
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Duprey joins Sen. Kelly Ayotte in speaking out against the decision.
