RNC suspends ties with NBC News for GOP debate in February
The Republican National Committee on Friday announced that it's suspending its partnership with NBC News for a GOP presidential debate that's scheduled for late February.
"The RNC's sole role in the primary debate process is to ensure that our candidates are given a full and fair opportunity to lay out their vision for America's future. We simply cannot continue with NBC without full consultation with our campaigns," RNC Chairman Reince Priebus wrote in a letter to NBC News Chairman Andy Lack.
The debate is scheduled for February 26, and Priebus said the National Review can remain on as a participant in the debate.
In a statement NBC said, "This is a disappointing development. However, along with our debate broadcast partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party."
Priebus indicated that the RNC's decision to shut out the network resulted from the way NBC's sister network, CNBC, ran the third Republican presidential debate on Wednesday.
"CNBC billed the debate as one that would focus on 'the key issues that matter to all voters--job growth, taxes, technology, retirement and the health of our national economy,'" Priebus said. "That was not the case."
Candidates were originally promised, Priebus said, that the opening question would be about economic or financial matters. "That was not the case," he said. The moderators' first question was about the candidates' biggest weaknesses.
"Questions were inaccurate or downright offensive," he said. "I will be working with our candidates to discuss how to move forward and will be in touch."
His letter comes as staffers for several of the GOP presidential candidates were preparing to meet in Washington on Sunday to discuss possible changes to debate format and rules.
A source familiar with the meeting told CBS News that the campaigns of Ben Carson, Lindsey Graham and Bobby Jindal were organizing it. The RNC had not been invited.
Candidates complained about the debate formats, timing, polling thresholds, questions, moderators and even the green rooms.
