Taco John
02-16-2012, 10:54 PM
Word is that the Paul campaign approached the Romney campaign about skipping out of this debate. Romney's camp agreed and Santorum followed suit. The plan it to keep the air out of the Gingrich balloon going into Super Tuesday.
Republican March 1 debate in Atlanta canceled
Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:50pm EST
(Reuters) - A planned March 1 debate of Republican presidential candidates in Atlanta was canceled on Thursday after Mitt Romney and Ron Paul dropped out of it and the campaign for Rick Santorum expressed doubt he would attend.
The CNN-sponsored debate was scheduled to take place in Newt Gingrich's home state of Georgia. Of the four remaining candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, only Gingrich, who has generally done well in the debates, had definitely been scheduled to attend.
A CNN statement said Romney and Paul had sent word they would not participate, and "without full participation of all four candidates, CNN will not move forward with the Super Tuesday debate."
The Republican state-by-state campaign to seek a challenger to Democratic President Barack Obama in November's election has been heavily reliant on debates. There have already been 20 debates, with one more scheduled for next Tuesday in Mesa, Arizona. It too is sponsored by CNN.
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said Romney would be spending a lot of time campaigning in Georgia and Ohio before the March 6 Super Tuesday contests when 10 states vote.
"With eight other states voting on March 6th, we will be campaigning in other parts of the country and unable to schedule the CNN Georgia debate. We have participated in 20 debates, including eight from CNN," she said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/us-usa-campaign-debate-idUSTRE81F1ZA20120216
Republican March 1 debate in Atlanta canceled
Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:50pm EST
(Reuters) - A planned March 1 debate of Republican presidential candidates in Atlanta was canceled on Thursday after Mitt Romney and Ron Paul dropped out of it and the campaign for Rick Santorum expressed doubt he would attend.
The CNN-sponsored debate was scheduled to take place in Newt Gingrich's home state of Georgia. Of the four remaining candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, only Gingrich, who has generally done well in the debates, had definitely been scheduled to attend.
A CNN statement said Romney and Paul had sent word they would not participate, and "without full participation of all four candidates, CNN will not move forward with the Super Tuesday debate."
The Republican state-by-state campaign to seek a challenger to Democratic President Barack Obama in November's election has been heavily reliant on debates. There have already been 20 debates, with one more scheduled for next Tuesday in Mesa, Arizona. It too is sponsored by CNN.
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said Romney would be spending a lot of time campaigning in Georgia and Ohio before the March 6 Super Tuesday contests when 10 states vote.
"With eight other states voting on March 6th, we will be campaigning in other parts of the country and unable to schedule the CNN Georgia debate. We have participated in 20 debates, including eight from CNN," she said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/us-usa-campaign-debate-idUSTRE81F1ZA20120216