CNN will host two more Republican primary debates in January

CNN said Thursday that the network would host two more Republican primaries — in Iowa and New Hampshire, ahead of the first caucuses and primaries early next year. The announcement comes as the Republican National Committee considers a rule change that would exempt Republican candidates from participating in only RNC-sanctioned debates.

Republican National Committee spokesman Keith Schipper clarified Thursday that the two CNN meetings “are not RNC-sanctioned debates.” Although former President Donald Trump is not expected to show up, at least two Republican presidential candidates have already expressed interest in participating. “I look forward to the Iowa debate,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote to X shortly after CNN's announcement was made.

A spokesperson for Vivek Ramaswamy told DailyMail.com that the 38-year-old entrepreneur was “ready.” Breaking away the candidates from only participating in RNC-sanctioned debates could create some opportunities for the 2024 presidential candidates to debate each other as the primaries kick off on Jan. 15 with the Iowa caucuses.

The Republican Party of New Hampshire was already preparing its own backup plan if no sanctioned debates were scheduled before the Granite State primary, The Messenger reported Tuesday. “If the rules are suspended because the RNC is done debating, then we would do one,” New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Chris Ager told The Messenger, adding that he was “very confident” that the state's ABC affiliate, WMUR-TV, would be a TV partner.

A spokesperson for the New Hampshire Republican Party did not respond to a request for comment on whether these plans are still in flux as the CNN debate is announced. Campaign spokespersons for Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and governor of South Carolina, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether they would participate.

CNN's Iowa debate is scheduled for January 10 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The New Hampshire debate is scheduled for January 21 and will take place at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire, two days before the state's first Republican primary. To qualify for the Iowa debate, candidates must receive at least 10 percent support in three separate national and/or Iowa polls among Republican voters who meet the network's standards. One of those polls must be an approved CNN poll of likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa.

If current polls hold, Trump, DeSantis and Haley are the only candidates with an average above 10 percent in Iowa and nationally. To earn a spot on the debate stage in New Hampshire, candidates must also be above the 10 percent threshold, but in three New Hampshire or national polls that meet CNN's standards — and, again, one of the polls must be an approved CNN poll of likely Republican primaries in New Hampshire. Additionally, candidates who finish in the top three in Iowa will be invited.

DeSantis has fallen below 10 percent support in New Hampshire, while Christie now averages 11.3 percent support, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average. Ramaswamy scored in single digits in both early states. The poll closing dates for the two debates are January 2 and 16 respectively.

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