Posted on 07/28/2015 9:46:02 PM PDT by tcrlaf
Fox News is opening its 5 p.m. debate to all the announced Republican candidates who fail to make the cut for the Aug. 6 prime-time event, removing a requirement that participants reach at least 1 percent in polling.
The change amounts to an insurance policy for candidates who were in danger of being disqualified from the vital first debate based on low polls – Carly Fiorina, former New York Gov. George Pataki and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).The announcement by Michael Clemente, Fox News Executive Vice President, News, means that all 16 announced candidates will qualify for Cleveland — either the 5 p.m. undercard, or the 9 p.m. main event.
The 9 p.m. debate will include the 10 candidates with the highest average in national polls, as determined by Fox News. The 5 p.m. forum will now include all the rest.
According to a POLITICO analysis of the latest national polling, the prime-time participants today would be Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Rick Perry
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I am glad they are doing it, whatever their reason. Hopefully it is just to be fair to everyone. But if it is for Carly, so be it. She is definitely worth putting on TV. I am looking forward to hearing Santorum and Jindal in that debate. I know Santorum will do fine but I have never heard Jindal talk at all.
Cruz will be fine with whatever they hit him with. I expect they will ask him his favorite color and later report he ‘never answered a tough question’.
Trump will turn it upside down. For better or worse, time will tell.
“Folks, all year I have been saying we had too many in the field, and others were so thrilled.
Well, here we are. This is why I said what I did”.
You were right.
I agree Jim. This is silly.
The candidates should have some obligation to get their numbers up before being included.
We could have 150 candidates if they really wanted to screw with us. There’s no obligation to have people with less than 1% polling included.
Even 3% might be more reasoned.
I’m not sure yet. Someone else may know.
Well freepers seem to think we can turn GOP tactics against them for dome insane reason. Stevie Wonder saw this coming. No offense to you intended. You were correct.
None of these events are debates. They are showcases and cattle calls. Way too many up on stage to debate anything. Just call it the 2015 Cavalcade of Stars including all GOP candidates, Jackie Gleason and The June Taylor Dancers
Geraldo Rivera is on top of their list followed by some lib from CNN and Chris Matthews is on stand by.
Just kidding.
These moderators are gifted when it comes to asking questions there’s no answer to and nobody cares about anyway.
The one to Cruz would go something like this.
Homosexuals can now marry. Do you think it’s right that Christians should get a free pass for denying them their Constitutional rights?
Should they lose their tax free status, and or certification for being a recognized church in local communities?
Thanks Laplata,
Thanks Norm.
Thought I heard it would be Megan , Brett and Chris Wallace.
Be careful, I’m getting older now and I can’t take the shock of some things like I used to.
= :^)
(just kidding)
You should be recognized for it. Because all the hell people gave anyone that refused to buy the ‘more the merrier crap’ served one purpose. To allow more GOP idiots into that stage.
Anyone that bucks the BS is to be applauded. You were not a sheep. Many were. Same thing that got us Romney.
“Oh he’ll never make it”
Until he did. We have to fight. And it starts right here at ‘home’.
All 16 at one place at the same time -— Cage Fight!
How so? Cruz currently ranks 5th in the polling.
Don't be like a liberal and believe that, if you wish for it, it must be true.
If I were Cruz I would PRAY for that question. If it were me up there “I’ would pray for that question. They will likely avoid that type IMO because they do not want his answer broadcast. Just as they do not want Trumps Illegal comments to get airtime.
I have no interest at all in hearing from most of these goofballs.
I want to here from Cruz, and I want to hear from Trump, and I have to say that I was most impressed with Ben Carson’s answers to the PP situation tonight on Kelly’s show.
I am not considering voting for him at this time, but he struck me as a good and honorable man this evening, so, hmmm, maybe I’ve been too harsh on him.
The rest of ‘em though nah. No need to even bring Bush, Rubio, Graham, Christie, Jindal all a waste of time and space.
Cruz could answer it perfectly, but you know they wouldn’t report it that way. They’d create the narrative and there would be nothing he could do about it.
I’m not sure Cruz could turn it around either. Trump is bigger than life, but for guys like Cruz, Walker, it’s just tough to break through the media onslaught.
I’m not saying this to put either of them down, or marginalize them. It’s what we’ve had to deal with for decades, the media snowing us under.
That isn’t going to work this time.
Did Fox lower IQ standards so Perry can partipate too?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.