Fox News Channel’s plan to limit the first Republican primary debate to just 10-12 of the expected 18 candidates is under attack by several New Hampshire officials who claim it is unfair to the candidates cut out and voters.
In a letter to Fox boss Roger Ailes and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, the officials proposed that Fox change the Aug. 6 debate format to include all candidates, or something closer to what CNN is planning in September.
“It is understandable that a large field presents logistical and broadcast challenges, and that Fox News is seeking to provide a forum in which candidates can be provided enough time to substantively communicate on the issues. However, the proposed limitations are unnecessarily narrow and risk eliminating potentially viable candidates based on unreliable national polling that is rarely predictive of primary election outcomes,” said the letter.
Fox’s Bret Baier will be one of the debate moderators.
It was signed by current and former lawmakers and political officials in New Hampshire.
Because it will be hard to deal with up to 18 candidates, Fox has proposed limiting the number of candidates by picking the top 10 in an average of the five most recent national polls. Should there be a tie, up to two more would be added. Priebus applauded the debate at the time, saying, “We support and respect the decision Fox has made which will match the greatest number of candidates we have ever had on a debate stage.”
The New Hampshire officials argued that it is up to voters to limit the field, not TV. “Historically it has been the responsibility of early primary and caucus states to closely examine and winnow the field of candidates, and it is not in the electorate’s interest to have TV debate criteria supplant this solemn duty. To do so would undermine the very nature of our process and the valuable service that states like New Hampshire provide to voters across the country,” they added.
Some pollsters and GOP advisors have also hit the Fox format, worried that the polls won’t be accurate, will include a large margin of error or ignore candidates who get into the race late.
But a top Republican official applauded the process, explaining that it will force candidates to get in early and make the case for the candidacy early.
The debate will be moderated by Fox News’ Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace. The cable network added that the format will allow viewers and Facebook users to share video questions.
The New Hampshire letter is below.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
