State GOP withdraws as FOX debate partner

[skinzterpswizfan]

Manchester – UnionLeader.com has learned that the New Hampshire Republican Party has quit as a co-sponsor of tomorrow night's nationally televised GOP forum on FOX News.

The event at Saint Anselm College had become controversial when FOX refused to include Ron Paul.

More details will be posted shortly.

http://unionleader.com/article.aspx...rticleId=fecf75e6-240c-4ef4-80f0-637736adf6fd

______________

Confirmed by Boston.com:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2008/01/nh_gop_drops_sp.html

The New Hampshire Republican Party dropped their affiliation with a Republican debate sponsored by Fox News tomorrow night because they have limited the number of candidates that can participate.

“The first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary serves a national purpose by giving all candidates an equal opportunity on a level playing field," said Republican chair Fergus Cullen. "Only in New Hampshire do lesser known, lesser funded underdogs have a fighting chance to establish themselves as national figures."

The Fox debate is excluding Texas Congressman Ron Paul even though he polls higher in New Hampshire and has raised significantly more money, and is campaigning more in New Hampshire than Fred Thompson who is invited.


______________________

Final update:

CNN has confirmed as well

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/05/granite-state-republicans-pull-debate-support/

 

[Ethek]

Oooh, thats good news. It can only pull as a protest vote for Dr. Paul.

 

[Menthol Patch]

This is awesome news! Lets spread the word of this far and wide!

 

[ShowMeLiberty]

Yes!

 

[UtahApocalypse]

We need solid confirmation. The paper had some inaccurate information earlier today about today's debate also. This part looks is what troubles me:

The event at Saint Anselm College had become controversial when FOX refused to include Ron Paul.

The dbate TODAY is at the college, The forum TOMORROW is somewhere else. I think that the Union Leader is confusing the two events.

 

[aricart]

Spaaaaace Blimp!

 

[Melissa]

that is great to see they honored thier word

 

[Molly1]

Wowowwowowow!!!

Whoooooheeeeeeee!

 

[Molly1]

Send Big Media A Message New Hampshire!!!

 

[Heather in WI]

Wow!

 

[walt]

this action MUST receive visible thanks from us to the NH GOP and CNN, MSNBC, etc

 

[dougkeenan]

That's excellent.

 

[Heather in WI]

http://www.kcrg.com/explorepolitics/?feed=bim&id=13287342

New Hampshire GOP Pulls Support For FOX Debate

Story Created: Jan 5, 2008

Story Updated: Jan 5, 2008
The New Hampshire Republican Party announced Saturday that it will no longer support a Republican candidate’s forum scheduled for Sunday on FOX.

Party officials decided to withdraw as co-sponsers after candidates California Rep. Duncan Hunter and Texas Rep. Ron Paulwere left uninvited.

Hunter posted only tiny percentage in Iowa disqualifying him under the criteria set by FOX, but remains in the race.

Having never received an initial invitation, Paul’s capture of 10% in Iowa Thursday, still did not convince organizers to allow his participation.

After strong media attention focusing on the forums exclusivity and internal discussion, New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen releases a statement Saturday making the separation official.

“The first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary serves a national purpose by giving all candidates an equal opportunity on a level playing field. Only in New Hampshire do lesser known, lesser funded underdogs have a fighting chance to establish themselves as national figures. Consistent with that tradition, we believe all recognized major candidates should have an equal opportunity to participate in pre-primary debates and forums,” wrote Cullen.

“This principle applies to tonight’s debates on ABC as well as Sunday’s planned forum on FOX. The New Hampshire Republican Party believes Congressmen Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter should be included in the FOX forum on Sunday evening. Our mutual efforts to resolve this difference have failed,” he continued.

“While we understand that FOX News continues to move forward it is with regret, the New Hampshire Republican Party hereby withdraws as a partner in this forum.”

 

[Kilrain]

CNN reports it, too:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/05/granite-state-republicans-pull-debate-support/

 

[sunny]

i just called the union leader and spoke with the guy who posted the article and
it IS real!
so tell everybody!
comment with thanks at the site!

 

[ronpaulNH]

Haha...thats great 4 us and bad for FOX!

 

[Menthol Patch]

Lets spread the word about this! We need to remind everyone in New Hampshire that their own state party has dropped their support of the Fox Forum!

 

[dawnbt]

Woot! Woot! Chalk one up for the Revolution!

 

[louisiana4liberty]

Huge black eye for Fox News.

 

[walt]

http://www.digg.com/politics/It_s_official_NH_GOP_drops_sponsorship_of_FOX_debate keep digging