ABC News Announces Pre-New Hampshire Primary Debate To Be Held Three Days Before CNN’s Planned GOP Gathering — Update
08.12.2023 - 00:52
/ deadline.com
UPDATE: ABC News says it will host a pre-New Hampshire GOP primary debate on Jan. 18, three nights before CNN‘s planned event.
The scheduling of two debates so close together is unusual, but it underscores the jockeying among the networks to host at least one of the Republican gatherings this cycle.
ABC News said that it was partnering with WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Republican State Committee for the event. Chris Ager, the chairman of the GOP committee, said in a statement that the debate will be “subject to RNC guidelines.”
CNN has its own set of criteria for its debate. The network also said that the RNC is expected to announce this week that candidates will be released from the requirement that they do not participate in debates not sanctioned by the party.
Both the ABC News and CNN said that their debates are scheduled to take place at Saint Anselm College.
In the ABC News announcement, representatives from WMUR and Saint Anslem College stressed the long tradition of partnership between the three entities for a pre-New Hampshire primary debate.
PREVIOUSLY: CNN said that it will host two Republican primary debates next month before the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries.
The network has been shut out of the first four Republican debates, which have been sanctioned by the Republican National Committee.
The network is hosting the debate on its own. CNN said that the RNC is expected to announce this week that candidates will be released from the requirement that they do not participate in debates not sanctioned by the party.
The first debate will take place on Jan. 10 at Drake University in Des Moines, and the second will be on Jan. 21 at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, NH. The Iowa caucuses are on