CNBC May Bow To Trump And Carson After They Threaten Debate Boycott

Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former New York Gov. George Pataki, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Te... Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former New York Gov. George Pataki, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, businessman Donald Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie take the stage during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) MORE LESS
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After Donald Trump and Ben Carson threatened to boycott CNBC’s Republican presidential debate on Oct. 28 over the event’s format, the network said Thursday it’s open to changing the rules.

Tensions boiled over in conversations with the network and the Republican National Committee over the event’s format, with the top two Republicans candidates threatening to walk away if the network refused to keep the debate to under two hours – with commercials – and allow for candidates to give opening and closing statements.

In a statement, CNBC spokesman Brian Steel called the criteria “a dialogue” and said the network has previously forgone opening statements to allow more time for debate.

“We started a dialogue yesterday with all of the campaigns involved and we will certainly take the candidate’s views on the format into consideration as we finalize the debate structure,” Steel said.

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Notable Replies

  1. Quicker than I thought. Otherwise, no surprise.

  2. Help me to find a gender positive version of “pussies.” I’m an old fart and I need the cultural hand-up. Thx.

  3. if each candidate gets 4 minutes for opening and closing speeches, that leaves time for one question.

  4. Interesting that Trump and Carson sent a joint letter to CNBC – it’s almost as if they’re acting in concert. Talk about throwing your weight around, I would have thought Chris Christie would be the first to do that.

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