Fiorina
may join next U.S. Republican debate after CNN rule
change
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[September 02, 2015]
By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CNN
changed its rules on Tuesday for the next Republican
presidential debate in a way that could give former
business executive Carly Fiorina a chance to take the
stage with the main contenders for the party's 2016
presidential nomination.
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The cable network, which is sponsoring the Sept. 16 debate,
said any candidate who ranks in the top 10 in polling since the
first debate on Aug. 6 would be included in the next prime-time
debate.
CNN originally had planned to include poll results dating to
July 16 to determine the participants, but Fiorina criticized
that plan because it would not have taken into account her surge
in support since the first debate.
Fiorina was widely viewed as the winner of the "undercard"
debate of low-polling candidates that took place hours before
the higher-ranking rivals competed in Cleveland.
"I really look forward to the debate," Fiorina said in an
interview with radio talk-show host Hugh Hewitt after the
announcement.
Asked if the debate was shaping up as a showdown between her and
Donald Trump, who leads in polls among Republican contenders,
Fiorina said: "I don’t know about that, but certainly Trump is
the front-runner. He is someone that I look forward to
discussing and debating with."
CNN said the adjustment might mean additional candidates would
participate in the debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential
Library in Simi Valley, California.
CNN said in a statement: "In the event that any candidate is
polling in the top 10 in an average of approved national polls
released between August 7th and September 10th, we will add
those candidates to our top tier debate, even if those
candidates did not poll in the top 10 in an average of approved
national polls between July 16th and September 10th,"
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Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus
welcomed the step.
"I applaud CNN for recognizing the historic nature of this
debate and fully support the network’s decision to amend their
criteria," he said.
Retired brain surgeon Ben Carson, another Republican who has
gained ground in the 17-strong pack of candidates chasing
front-runner Donald Trump, also said he was pleased by the
changes. He urged CNN to allow all the candidates to appear in
the prime-time debate.
"Carly has proven her viability and standing and deserves the
same platform as the rest of the candidates," Carson said.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Peter
Cooney; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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