As usual, Fox News is pulling the GOP’s strings, and will limit the first presidential debate to just ten of at least 16 likely candidates. Take a look to see who’s in, who’s out – before they’ve even begun.
When the lights go up and the cameras are turned on, America will see only ten Republican candidates on stage at the first GOPÂ presidential debate in Cleveland this August, more than a year before the 2016 election.
“To qualify for the event, candidates must place in the top 10 of an average of the five most recent national polls by August 4th at 5 p.m. ET, the Washington Post first reported. “Such polling must be conducted by major, nationally recognized organizations that use standard methodological techniques and recognized by Fox News.”
It is stunning that a cable news network and not the political party would decide which candidates have access to the debate, but RNC chairman Reince Priebus issued a statement announcing his full support.
According to the Post and Talking Points Memo, if the list were created today, the stage would be filled by:Â
Jeb Bush
Marco RubioÂ
Scott Walker
Rand PaulÂ
Ted CruzÂ
Mike Huckabee
Ben Carson
Chris ChristieÂ
Donald Trump
Rick Perry
Absent from the list would be Rick Santorum, John Kasich, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, and George Pataki.
There are many other possible and/or likely candidates who may or may not announce.
The Post notes that Santorum an Kasich currently are “a fraction of a point behind Perry,” and of course, anything can change.Â
None of the candidates have commented as of yet, but expect those towards the bottom to express discontent.
So, the “fair and balanced” network whose motto was, “We report, you decide,” will actually be deciding.
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Image by IowaPolitics.com via Flickr and a CC license