CNN has moved its primetime Republican debate from 9 p.m. EST to 8 p.m., eliminating the long gap between its main event and the earlier forum for second-tier candidates, the network told campaigns in a conference call Tuesday afternoon.
A CNN spokesperson confirmed the time change.
The earlier debate with candidates who polled at least 1 percent in three national polls will start at 6 p.m. EST, ending at 7:45 p.m.
According to sources who were on the call, candidates will not give opening and closing statements though they will have a 15- to 20-second window to introduce themselves. Candidates will also have one minute to respond to questions and 30-second rebuttals, if their name is invoked by another candidate.
CNN anchor Jake Tapper, as moderator, will ask the majority of questions, supplemented by questions from CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash and conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
Representatives for every invited candidate, except former New York Gov. George Pataki, were on the call.
Last week CNN changed the criteria of their primetime debate, ensuring that any candidate who falls within the top 10 in the average of polls since the first debate would have a spot on stage. That change cleared the path for the likely inclusion of Carly Fiorina, who experienced a surge in polling after her strong performance in the earlier “happy hour” debate on Fox in earlier August.
Read more:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/cnn-debate-criteria-213414#ixzz3lBfkqnJl
