RNC Relents: Feb 26 Debate Moves To Texas

RNC Chairman Priebus quietly changed the February 26th debate to Texas. No explanation was published.

  Of the massive number of GOP Presidential Debates, none of the original RNC venues were planned for the Traditional South. In January, the list stated that the Feb. 26th debate would be held in Florida. Even though Florida's primary was the better part of a month later, in the latter half of March.

1. Fox News     August 2015     Ohio	2. CNN     September 2015     California	3. CNBC     October 2015     Colorado
4. Fox Business     November 2015     Wisconsin	5. CNN     December 2015     Nevada	6. Fox News     January 2016     Iowa
7. ABC News     February 2016     New Hampshire	8. CBS News     February 2016     South Carolina	9. NBC/Telemundo     February 2016      Florida
The original RNC debate schedule (released Jan., 2015)

  But Feb 26th is in the final weekend prior to the traditional South's Super Tuesday. Sooner Politics and other publications complained that this appears to be an attempt at thwarting the political voice & power of social conservatives by putting the candidates in from of a Florida audience who would be more friendly to Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio.

  Evidently the RNC has quietly changed their minds and is now selecting a Texas venue to host the NBC/Telemundo production. On June 3rd they issued  this update:

9. February 26, 2016     NBC/Telemundo     Aired On: NBC-Mundo     Location: Houston, TX	10. March, 2016*       Fox News       Aired On: Fox News       Location: TBD	11. March 10, 2016       CNN/Salem       Aired On: CNN       Location: Florida
The August-2015 updated debate schedule

Who Wins?

The social conservatives in the race will likely benefit from the midwestern issues and the Texas venue.

  The social conservatives in the race will likely benefit from the midwestern issues and the Texas venue. Texas candidates (there are 3 with Texas ties) will also enjoy a friendly home crowd. But NBC and Telemundo are not the most sympathetic host. It is set up to be perhaps the most hostile exchange between liberal media and the candidates. Get your tickets early. This is going to be a huge event.

David Van Risseghem