Primary Debates and Forums


CNBC's "The Republican Presidential Debate: Your Money, Your Vote"
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015 at Coors Events Center at the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO.
About 

Main Debate

L-R: Kasich, Huckabee, Bush, Rubio, Trump, Carson, Fiorina, Cruz, Christie, Paul.
                                            Screen grab from CNBC

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at approx. 8:00-10:00 p.m. E.T.

Post-Debate  |  video

Sponsors:  CNBC.

Candidates:  Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump.  [10 total]

Moderators:  CNBC's Carl Quintanilla, co-anchor of "Squawk on the Street" and "Squawk Alley," Becky Quick, co-anchor of "Squawk Box" and Chief Washington Correspondent John Harwood.

Audience:  "...just over 1,000 people."

BroadcastLive on CNBC and available to all CNBC Digital customers who authenticate via TV Everywhere on CNBC.com, mobile apps and Apple TV as well as to CNBC PRO subscribers. The debate will also air on SiriusXM channel 112 and Westwood One.

Format:  Under pressure from several of the candidates, including a joint letter from Trump and Carson, CNBC agreed to limit the debate to two hours including commercials and to include opening and closing statements.

Overview:  It is now less than 100 days until the Iowa caucuses.  Trump, whose star is seen to be waning somewhat, and Carson appear to be the frontrunners, but one of the key moments in this debate came when Bush attempted to hit Rubio for his poor attendance in the Senate and Rubio rebuffed Bush's attack.  NPR clocked candidate time (>) and found that Fiorina spoke the most and Paul the least: Fiorina (10:32), Rubio (10:10), Kasich (9:42), Trump (9:26), Christie (8:31), Huckabee (7:39), Cruz (7:34), Carson (7:02), Bush (6:39) and Paul (6:15).

CNBC reported the debate averaged 14 million total viewers, "making it CNBC's most-watched telecast in network history."  However, the moderators took a lot of flak for trying to stir up controversy among the candidates rather than have them address issues.  Within a couple of days the Republican National Commitee moved to suspend its partnership with NBC News for a scheduled Feb. 26 debate, claiming CNBC's "handling of the debate was conducted in bad faith (+)."


Undercard Debate

L-R:  Jindal, Santorum, Pataki, Graham.                                                                                                                   Screen grab from CNBC

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. E.T.

Post-Debate  |  Video

Sponsors:  CNBC.

Candidates:  Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki, and Rick Santorum.  ("...meet the minimum threshold of one percent in any one of the specified group of national polls.")

Moderators:  CNBC's Carl Quintanilla, co-anchor of "Squawk on the Street" and "Squawk Alley," Becky Quick, co-anchor of "Squawk Box" and Chief Washington Correspondent John Harwood.

Audience

BroadcastLive on CNBC and available to all CNBC Digital customers who authenticate via TV Everywhere on CNBC.com, mobile apps and Apple TV as well as to CNBC PRO subscribers. The debate will also air on SiriusXM channel 112 and Westwood One.

Format:  30 seconds for opening, 60 seconds for formal questions, 30 seconds for rebuttals and follow ups, 30-second closing statements.  Included a couple of lightening rounds.

Overview:  None of these candidates appeared to have had a moment that will help him to escape from B-debate purgatory.  NPR's tally of candidate time (>) found rough parity: Jindal (10:38), Graham (9:33), Sandorum (9:29) and Pataki (8:38).



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