CNBC unveiled the rules for the third GOP presidential debate, which will feature an undercard of lower polling candidates at 6 p.m. and better polling candidates at 8 p.m.
The criteria for the October 28 debate in Boulder, Colorado, is as follows:
To appear in the 8 p.m. debate a candidate must have an average of 3 percent among these polls. The polls will be averaged and will be rounded up to 3 percent for any candidate with a standing of 2.5 percent or higher. Candidates who average below that will be invited to the 6 p.m. debate.
As for the subject matter of the third debate, CNBC moderators Carl Quintanilla, Becky Quick and John Harwood will focus on finance and the economy.
“We focus on money — from financial markets and economies around the world to the most fundamental pcoketbook issues involving savings and retirement,” said Mark Hoffman, CNBC chairman, in a statement. “Financial freedom, entrepreneurship and job growth are core to Americans’ decision-making process when they cast their vote.”
The Republican National Committee held a 3 p.m. phone call this afternoon with the presidential campaigns and discussed the guidelines for the upcoming debate.
In recent days, rumors have swirled about tension between the RNC and CNBC about the structure of the debate, while GOP chief strategist Sean Spicer has said he doubted the party would host another “undercard” debate of lower polling candidates. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s campaign suspected party leaders wanted to clear the field to make way for a matchup between Donald Trump and Jeb Bush, but the only thing standing in the way of lower-polling Republican candidates now are national polls.
