The upcoming Republican Party of Iowa Presidential Debate, scheduled to be televised on FOX News Channel on December 4, 2007, has been cancelled due to candidate scheduling conflicts.

RPI is disappointed that Iowans will not have the same opportunity that Republicans in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida had earlier this year with their nationally televised debates.  A debate in Iowa leading up to January 3, 2008, would have displayed Iowa's unique caucus system, and possibly garnered more viewers and attention than any other debate given its proximity to the caucuses.

Republican Party of Iowa Executive Director Chuck Laudner said, "It is too bad that a candidate wouldn't want to take advantage of this kind of debate with representation from all 99 Iowa counties in the audience, let alone the fact FOX News Channel has had the most viewers of any debate."

Contact:  Mary Tiffany

For Immediate Release November 6, 2007

The Republican Party of Iowa announced today that it will hold its presidential debate at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines.  The event, to be held the evening of December 4, 2007, will be the first debate in Iowa to be televised by FOX News Channel this election season, as well as the first debate sponsored by the Republican Party of Iowa.

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Ray Hoffmann said, "With the caucuses less than a month away, our December 4 debate will be very telling to Iowans and the nation.  We are thrilled to be having this event in central Iowa, and right in downtown Des Moines which will be the epicenter on caucus night."

The debate will be limited to those candidates who have satisfied the following criteria:

1.  Announced a formal campaign for President: and

2.  Filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission; and

3.  Met all U.S. constitutional requirements; and

4.  Garnered at least 5% of the national electorate as determined by an average of the most recent national telephone polls of registered voters conducted by non-partisan public opinion polling organizations leading up to the registration deadline as determined by Fox News Channel and the Republican Party of Iowa or garnered an average of at least 5% in the most recent polls of Iowa voters conducted by the American Research Group and the Des Moines Register.

 

Contact:  Mary Tiffany

For Immediate Release September 14, 2007

The Republican Party of Iowa announced today that it will host a debate featuring major Republican candidates for President of the United States.  The event, to be held on December 4, will be the first debate in Iowa to be televised by FOX News Channel this election season, as well as the first debate sponsored by the Republican Party of Iowa, announced Ray Hoffmann, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa.

In making the announcement, Hoffmann said, "This debate will be crucial for Iowa and the rest of the nation to see and hear our Republican presidential candidates prior to their first test in January - the Iowa caucus. We hope this debate can educate and motivate Iowans to come out on caucus night, get involved in our grassroots process and voice their opinions."

Marty Ryan, FOX News Executive Producer of Political Programs, added, "With its first-in-the-nation status, Iowa plays a vital role in the political process, and as one of the final debates before the caucuses, it will be even more important to tune in and learn where these candidates stand on issues that matter to Iowans and Americans alike."

Please accept the following on-the-record statement from Romney for President Iowa State Director Gentry Collins, regarding the Fox News Debate:

"We have received invitations to a number of debates in the month of December.  Along with other campaigns, we unfortunately had to decline an invite to a December 4 debate as part of a scheduling decision.  We will be participating in a December 12 debate sponsored by the Des Moines Register however, and we look forward to that opportunity to again meet with Iowa voters on the issues. Governor Romney has already made 24 trips to the state and worked hard to win the Iowa GOP's Ames straw poll."