Free Republic

PORTLAND, Ore. – After months of planning, the Oregon Republican Party had to cancel their presidential debate just days before it was scheduled to happen. The two leading candidates, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, both declined invitations, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting, which was hosting the debate. Without the front-runners, organizers decided it wasn’t worth holding the debate. A party spokesman said the campaigns have changed strategies and don’t see the advantage of national debates. He said organizers did their best to make the debate happen, but in the end it wasn’t in the cards. "It is disappointing," said Oregon...

Newt Gingrich had a message for rivals Santorum and Romney at a campaign event in his native Georgia Friday: bawk bawk bawkkkk. After two people dressed in chicken suits entertained the crowd, holding a sign reading “I’m Chicken to Debate Newt,” Gingrich hit his rivals for backing out of a CNN-sponsored debate that had been scheduled for March 1 but was canceled after Santorum, Romney and Paul of Texas said they would not attend. “I’m going to ask them to reconsider and come to Georgia. It’ll be just fine,” Gingrich told an audience of about 400 gathered in an airplane...

The front of the GOP pack will be absent at the March 1 debate in Atlanta sponsored by CNN and the Georgia Republican Party, CBS News/National Journal has learned. The Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum campaigns said they have decided to skip the debate, throwing into question whether it will happen as planned. "With eight other states voting on March 6, we will be campaigning in other parts of the country and unable to schedule the CNN Georgia debate," Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said. "We have participated in 20 debates, including eight from CNN." The 20 debates include one scheduled for...

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.