[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Polling is irrelevant before they have a chance to be heard. I could even see limiting later debates, but not the first one unless they mean to have another debate for the rest of the contenders.

If you run, you should be included.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: If you run, you should be included.

If this is the case, how do we fit them all in a debate stage?

[9YearLurker]

Don’t their careers speak louder than a few words intended to make people vote for them?

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I agree. The first debate might be the first chance many voters have a chance to hear someone not regularly covered in the media. IMHO, the poll numbers before the first debate have more to do with name recognition than anything else.

It might make for a longer debate and the pre and post commentaries will stretch it further. I do not doubt revenue considerations come into play. While this might be a FOX News decision, I cannot help but wonder how much, if any, input the RNC had. The fewer candidates on the main stage, the less chance there is of of a strong conservative knocking a GOP-e candidate put of the running.

Those not included will not be considered serious candidates by the public. After the first debate they will be ignored by the media. We should have at least one chance to hear what they all have to say.