Canceled on March 16 after Donald Trump said he would not be appearing because he had commited to speak at the AIPAC Policy Conference, and John Kasich then said he would not participate in the debate either.

Fox News Channel
March 14, 2016

FOX NEWS CHANNEL TO HOST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH ON MARCH 21ST

FOX News Channel (FNC) announced today that the network will host its fourth Republican presidential primary debate on Monday, March 21st from Salt Lake City, Utah. The two-hour debate will be presented live from the Salt Palace Convention Center at 9PM/ET on FNC, as well as the network’s additional platforms, including FOX News Radio, FOX News Mobile and FOXNews.com.

Following the pivotal March 15th Republican primaries, Special Report anchor Bret Baier, The Kelly File anchor Megyn Kelly and FOX News Sunday host Chris Wallace will return as moderators before voters go to the polls in Arizona and Utah on March 22nd. All remaining candidates in the primary race will be invited to participate in the debate.

FNC’s three previous primary debates delivered the three highest-rated telecasts in the network’s history. The August 6th debate delivered a record-breaking 24 million viewers and remains the highest-rated non-sports cable broadcast of all time. Additionally, the network’s most recent debate on March 3rd in Detroit delivered the highest ratings for a debate in 2016.

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service dedicated to delivering breaking news as well as political and business news.  A top five cable network, FNC has been the most-watched news channel in the country for more than 14 years and according to a Suffolk University/USA Today poll, is the most trusted television news source in the country. Owned by 21st Century Fox, FNC is available in more than 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.

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FOX News Channel Media Contacts:

Carly Shanahan

Jamie Rokus

Republican National Committee
February 20, 2016

RNC Debate Committee Announces Additional Debate March 21st in Salt Lake City, UT

Additional April Debate in New York City Authorized If Needed

WASHINGTON - Due to historic interest in the race for the Republican nomination for president, the Republican National Committee's Debate Committee met today and authorized an additional debate on March 21 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The debate, to be held one day before the winner-take-all primary in Arizona, caucuses in Utah, and convention in American Samoa, would come after roughly half of the delegates to the Republican Convention have been chosen. While the committee has designated Salt Lake City as the host city, the venue and network partner have not been finalized.
 
Additionally, the committee approved, if needed, a final debate in April to be held in New York City ahead of the New York primary.  
 
“Debates have played a vital role in our nominating process this cycle. The RNC's goal, in short, has been to make sure debates serve to showcase our candidates and give them a means to make their case to Republican voters. We believe that the debates to date have done so. Moreover, our outstanding and diverse field has attracted more viewers than any cycle in history. And as this process continues into delegate rich March, that interest will undoubtedly become more focused and increase. The additional debate in Utah and the possibility of holding one in New York ensures that Republican voters and activists will continue to see our candidates in action. Whether we ultimately face the Clinton machine or Bernie Sanders, the more people see our candidates the better," said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alice Stewart
News Release Catherine Frazier
March 16, 2016  

Donald Ducks Another Debate 

Cruz Campaign Accepts AIPAC Speaking Invitation, Issues Challenge To Trump: “If You Won’t Debate In Utah, We’ll Bring The Debate To You”

HOUSTON, Texas – The presidential campaign of Ted Cruz today criticized Donald Trump for ducking yet another Fox News debate and committed to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference being held in Washington, D.C., on Monday, March 21st, where Trump will also be speaking.
 
“Let’s be intellectually honest about what’s going on here – Donald Trump is scared to debate Ted Cruz next week,” said Cruz for President Spokesman Ron Nehring. “Perhaps Mr. Trump is unable to speak for more than one minute about any given topic because of his shallow understanding of basic policies, or perhaps he is scared of voters learning the truth - that he has spent his entire adult life promoting liberal positions completely opposite of the conservative platform that he has campaigned on. Mr. Trump, if you won’t debate in Utah, we’ll bring the debate to you.”
 
While the AIPAC speaking opportunity is not a debate, Ted Cruz will use his speaking opportunity to highlight Trump’s positions – or lack thereof – in front of the thousands of AIPAC members in attendance, including Trump’s recent comments that he would be “neutral” in the debate between Israel and the Palestinians.
 
“Donald can’t duck us for the rest of this campaign, and so we will happily press the issue until the public pressure becomes too much for him to bear,” continued Nehring. “Anytime, anyplace…let’s do it, Donald.”
 
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