Trump backed out of the long-scheduled Fox News debate several days later.
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Priebus confirmed that the RNC would back Republican nominee Donald Trump if he were to protest or demand changes to the presidential debate schedule as set by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) a year ago.
Hillary Clinton wants to be against the NFL.
And with upwards of 22.5 million viewers tuning into Sunday Night Football previous year, one of the two programs is likely going to lose out on viewers.
RNC Chairman Reince Preibus said the debates would get more viewers if they were on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights.
Just one problem with that: The NFL says it never sent him a letter. Our posture and our position on the debates is that we want as many people, as many voters to be participants in and to see the debates as possible, which is different from the Clinton campaign.
But the first date is the same night as a “Monday Night Football” game between the Atlantic Falcons and New Orleans Saints.
In an interview with ABC’s Sunday show “This Week”, Trump was asked whether he would accept the commission’s schedule. The Commission on Presidential debates has overseen all presidential debates going back to the 1980s.
The commission has said it did not consult either party or campaign in setting the dates. “But I want it to be the maximum audience”.
“Mr. Trump was made aware of the conflicting dates by a source close to the league”. The Clinton camp knows about these conflicts as well, but apparently that’s not a big deal for them.
Trump threatened to drop out of the debate a few times during the Republican primary, either because of the format or complaints about how he was being covered by the television networks. He said the National Football League has similar concerns about the shared airtime.
STELTER: I don’t understand why he told George Stephanopoulos he received a letter, then. (Yes, I know we have Thursday night National Football League games now, but I personally don’t approve of them and if we have to miss a game I’d rather it be one of those.) The primary race debates were moved around and added at the drop of a hat without the world coming to an end.
STELTER: It’s not semantics if you send me a letter versus make a phone call.
The Clinton campaign did not comment on Trump’s assertions. “I don’t know how the dates are picked”. It’s a fascinating debate to consider when you hear this story.
The second debate, meanwhile, might pose a more legitimate concern.
“We’re going to sit down with the commissioner and talk with them”, he said. He had skipped one of the debates to do a fundraiser for veterans charities. That’s our spirit of it.
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STELTER: What evidence do we have of that?
