Dozens of New Hampshire Republicans are calling on Fox News and the Republican National Committee to rethink limiting the number of candidates in the first televised debate to 10, warning that the criteria being used could eliminate viable candidates and goes against the interest of voters.
In an open letter to Fox News President Roger Ailes and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, the group argues that the debate cap would “distort the political process” and undermine the traditional role that voters in the early caucus and primary states play in winnowing the field.
“Denying candidates an opportunity to showcase their talents and experience in the first televised debate would artificially distort the political process, stifle democracy and competition, and induce voters to consider only those candidates pre-selected by virtue of their name ID rather than their potential as candidates,” the letter reads. “The first televised debate in the 2016 election cycle should place all candidates on even footing and allow each to make their case directly to the voters and your viewers. Anything less would prematurely suppress the candidate field, and arbitrarily elevate candidates who benefit from the preliminary notoriety and fundraising.”
Fox News and the RNC announced last month that they would limit the first sanctioned debate on Aug. 6 in Ohio to 10 candidates based on an average of national polls.
The announcement has sparked some backlash in GOP circles, and raised concerns that former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson — respectively the only woman and black in the field — might not make the debate stage.
Other Republicans have noted that it would be hard for the GOP to explain away how someone like Donald Trump, who will announce his political plans next week, could qualify and potentially squeeze out the likes of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has decades of public service and is lining up a bid.
In their letter, the New Hampshire Republicans recommend dividing the debate into two groups and randomly divide the top six candidates in the polls between the two sessions.
“This is not only appropriate, but also necessary to ensure that the Republican Party ultimately selects the best nominee possible,” the letter reads. “We strongly urge you to revise your criteria and present a format for your debate that embraces these principles, and puts voters’ interests first.”
More than 50 Republicans signed the letter, including former New Hampshire Govs. Craig Benson and Stephen Merrill; state Sen. President Chuck Morse; Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley; Chris Sununu, a member of the New Hampshire Executive Council and son of former Gov. John Sununu; former RNC Delegates John Lyons; and former state GOP Chairman Fergus Cullen.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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