CNN
November 20, 2015

Candidate criteria for the December 15, 2015, Republican Presidential Primary Debates 

To receive an invitation for the December 15, 2015, Republican Presidential Primary
Debates, a candidate must satisfy the following criteria: 
  
1.         Fulfill the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of
the United States. 
  
2.         File a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. 
  
3.         To qualify for participation in one of the Republican Presidential Primary
Debates, a candidate must achieve at least one percent in four separate national,
Iowa, or New Hampshire polls that are recognized by CNN. 
  
4.         To qualify for participation in the 9 p.m. ET Republican Presidential Primary Debate on December 15, 2015, a candidate must achieve an average of at least 3.5 percent (without rounding) in national polls recognized by CNN or achieve an
average of at least 4 percent (without rounding) in New Hampshire polls recognized by
CNN or achieve an average of at least 4 percent (without rounding) in Iowa polls
recognized by CNN.  
  
5.         Candidates who qualify for the Republican Presidential Primary Debates, but do not meet the threshold to participate in the 9 p.m. ET debate, will be invited
to participate in the early debate. 
  
6.         Agree to accept the rules and format of the debate. 
  
Recognized Polls:  
  
To determine eligibility, only polling data collected from surveys that began no earlier than October 29, 2015, and released no later than 9 a.m. ET on December
13, 2015, will be considered. Poll averages will not be rounded up or down to the
closest whole number.  
  
Only polling data from the following sources will be considered: live interviewer
national and state polls sponsored or conducted by: ABC News, Bloomberg News, CBS News, CNN, FOX News, Gallup, Marist University, McClatchy News Service,
Monmouth News Service, NBC News, The New York Times, Pew Research Center,
Quinnipiac University, Time, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington
Post, The Des Moines Register, University of New Hampshire, WBUR and WMUR. 

Rand Paul for President
December 12, 2015

Rand Paul for President Issues Debate Statement

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Prior to CNN's Republican Presidential debate announcement, Rand Paul for President has had discussions with the RNC and CNN in which the campaign indicated that Rand Paul should be on the main stage on Tuesday. Our campaign asserts that fairness in dealing with polling variances, which previously allowed for amended rules for Carly Fiorina for CNN's August Republican Presidential debate, would indicate Rand Paul should be on the main stage during Tuesday's debate.   
 
Some of the points include:

1. Polling criteria has been amended in the previous CNN debate in a similar manner to what we are urging be done today.
 
In August, polls were all over the place. Older polls had one result, while newer ones had another. Even in contemporaneous polls, there were different people ahead and behind. Thus it was determined that additional time periods and criteria were warranted for fairness. We ask for the same process today.

A. In addition to the previously announced criteria, if a candidate qualified via the polling between the last debate and this debate, they are on the main stage.
 
B. In addition to the previously announced and above criteria, if a candidate is above other main stage participants in multiple polls, they are on the main stage. Senator Paul is in the TOP FIVE in multiple polls, including the newest New York Times national poll. 

2. Senator Paul has a national, first-tier campaign, organized in all 50 states. He is on the ballot everywhere that has had filing. He has over 400 fully operational grassroots groups, and his campaign and related entities have raised $22 million for this race. It is simply not consistent with facts to attempt to force the campaign off  of the main debate stage.

3. Rounding up should be applied. Polling margins are simply too wide to allow a quarter or half a point to determine the outcome. 

4. The campaign is not asking for special treatment, but simply fairness in criteria, whether it be time frames, allowances for poll variances, or rounding, all of which have been applied to other debates.
 
Senator Paul is eager for Tuesday's CNN debate, and looks forward to his fair and rightful place on the main stage.
 
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Salem Media Group

Hugh Hewitt Named Panelist for Next Two CNN SRN Presidential Debates

CAMARILLO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Salem Media Group (NASDAQ: SALM)  and CNN announced today that SRN Talk Show Host Hugh Hewitt has been named as a panelist in the December 15th GOP debate at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and also for the CNN GOP debate scheduled for March 10th in Florida.  Hewitt was also a panelist in the last CNN debate at the Reagan Library.  Both CNN and Salem will carry the debate live on the cable news network and on radio stations all over the country. 

"I am excited by the opportunity to continue to help shape the conversation about which of the candidates ought to be the GOP nominee in 2016," said Hewitt.  "My focus remains on posing questions that elicit answers GOP primary voters will find helpful in casting their ballots."

The last debate on September 16th was seen by 23 million people, making it a record for CNN. 

Salem Radio Network will present the audio of the debates to its 31 NewsTalk stations, and others around the country.  Hewitt continues to be the "go to" host for the Presidential candidates.  "I've done over 50 in-depth interviews with the candidates who remain in the field and will continue to invite them onto my radio show between now and March to pose tough, straightforward questions. There's no better way for me or for them to prepare," said Hewitt. 

"Hugh demonstrated incredible poise as a panelist on the first debate," said Salem President of Broadcast Media Dave Santrella.  "I know CNN is as pleased as we are with Hugh's performance and look forward to him helping frame the next two landmark broadcasts."

Stations wanting to carry the debates should call the SRN affiliation department at 972-707-6885.

Follow us on Twitter @SalemMediaGrp.

ABOUT SALEM MEDIA GROUP:

Salem Media Group is America's leading Christian and conservative multi-media corporation, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book, magazine and newsletter publishing.  Each day Salem serves a loyal and dedicated audience of listeners and readers numbering in the millions nationally.  With its unique programming focus, Salem provides compelling content, fresh commentary and relevant information from some of the most respected figures across the media landscape.

The company, through its Salem Radio Group, is the largest commercial U.S. radio broadcasting company providing Christian and conservative programming.  Salem owns and operates 117 local radio stations, with 72 stations in the top 25 media markets.  Salem Radio Network ("SRN") is a full-service national radio network, with nationally syndicated programs comprising Christian teaching and talk, conservative talk, news, and music.  SRN is home to many industry-leading hosts including: Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager and Eric Metaxas.

Salem New Media is a powerful source of Christian and conservative themed news, analysis, and commentary.  Salem's Christian sites include: Christianity.com®, BibleStudyTools.com, GodTube.com, GodVine.com, WorshipHouseMedia.com and OnePlace.com. Considered by many to be a consolidation of the conservative news and opinion sector's most influential brands, Salem's conservative sites include RedState.com, Townhall.com®, HotAir.com, Twitchy.com, BearingArms.com and Human Events.com.

Salem's Regnery Publishing unit, with a 65-year history, remains the nation's leading publisher of conservative books.  Having published many of the seminal works of the early conservative movement, Regnery today continues as the dominant publisher in the conservative space, with leading authors including: Ann Coulter, Dinesh D'Souza, Newt Gingrich, David Limbaugh, Ed Klein and Mark Steyn.  Salem's book publishing business also includes Xulon Press™, a leading provider of self-publishing services for Christian and conservative authors.

Salem Publishing™ publishes Christian and conservative magazines including Homecoming®, YouthWorker Journal™, The Singing News, and Preaching.

Salem Media Group also owns Eagle Financial Publications and Eagle Wellness. Eagle Financial Publications provide market analysis and specific investment advice for individual investors from financial commentators Mark Skousen, Nicholas Vardy, Chris Versace, Doug Fabian and Bryan Perry, as well as a stock screening website for dividend investors (DividendInvestor.com). The business unit's other financial websites include EagleDailyInvestor.com and ETFU.com.  Eagle Wellness provides practical health advice and is a trusted source for nutritional supplements from one of the country's leading complementary health physicians.

Company Contact:
Tom Tradup
VP of News and Talk Programming at Salem Radio Network