CNN Cancels March 1 Debate After Candidates Decline
“CNN canceled its March 1 Republican candidates’ debate Thursday after three of four candidates declined to participate, citing busy campaign schedules leading to Super Tuesday.
“Mitt Romney and Ron Paul told the Georgia Republican Party, Ohio Republican Party and CNN Thursday that they will not participate in the March 1 Republican presidential primary debate,” CNN said in a statement. “Without full participation of all four candidates, CNN will not move forward with the Super Tuesday debate.”
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum also said he would not participate, leaving only former House Speaker Newt Gingrich committed to attending.
Still scheduled is a Feb. 22 debate sponsored by CNN and the Arizona Republican Party in Mesa, Ariz. It will be moderated by CNN’s John King.”
Just like clock work.
So once again the vast majority of states in the primary don’t matter. Only the first 10 or so actually get to see the candidates debate. Nice.
This is a win for big money. Don’t we all wish all the candidates could get a fair shake on an even playing field through free media? That’s what the debates are all about. But some candidates would rather use one-sided big money advertisements to pummel the other candidates in a forum where they have no opportunity to respond.
This act of cowardice and this insult to the voters is all I needed to hear. Santorum has no chance of swaying my vote away from Newt now.
Now why doesn’t CNN reschedule the debate a few days earlier if the timing is such a problem?