Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has said he aims to negotiate with networks directly, while New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is also skeptical.
Washington:
Republicans, who warned after the 2012 US elections that too many primary debates lead to chaos, appear to be replaying that scenario as campaigns clash with networks over debate formats.
The Republican primary debate broadcast last Wednesday on CNBC infuriated some candidates and their handlers, who accused moderators of interrupting candidates and bias against conservatives.
Since then, several campaigns have staged a revolt against the networks that will host the remaining debates, seeking to impose a more favorable format.
After campaign operatives huddled behind closed doors Sunday, the candidates settled on a long list of demands in a letter to the networks, which was obtained by the Washington Post.
They included a requirement of a 30-second minimum for opening statements; a ban on "lightning rounds" that deny a candidate opportunity to expand an answer; candidate pre-approval of biographical data in screen graphics; and a pledge that debate hall temperatures be kept below 67 degrees (19 degrees Celsius).
They also sought to avoid "gotcha" questions, as well as candidate-to-candidate questioning.
After the CNBC debate, widely seen by Republicans as a debacle, the Republican National Committee (RNC) on Friday sought to deprive parent company NBC of the right to host a debate next February.
Not all candidates were on board with the letter aimed at forcing networks to bow to their demands.
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has said he aims to negotiate with networks directly, while New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is also skeptical.
"There's no deal in place," Christie told Fox News on Monday.
His message to fellow candidates: "Stop complaining.... Set up a stage, put podiums up there, and let's just go."
A final decision on whether to send the letter could come by Tuesday evening, Politico reported, citing people involved in the discussions.
Several Republican campaigns have expressed concern that the RNC had not negotiated effectively on their behalf with the networks.
In an effort to smooth ruffled feathers, the RNC named a new official, RNC chief operating officer Sean Cairncross, to work with the networks and the campaigns.
President Barack Obama has taken note of the Republican complaints, and offered a withering critique.
"They say, when I talk to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, he's going to straighten out... and then it turns out they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators," he quipped at a Monday evening Democratic fundraiser in New York.
"If you can't handle those guys, I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are going to be too worried about you."
The Republican primary debate broadcast last Wednesday on CNBC infuriated some candidates and their handlers, who accused moderators of interrupting candidates and bias against conservatives.
Since then, several campaigns have staged a revolt against the networks that will host the remaining debates, seeking to impose a more favorable format.
After campaign operatives huddled behind closed doors Sunday, the candidates settled on a long list of demands in a letter to the networks, which was obtained by the Washington Post.
They included a requirement of a 30-second minimum for opening statements; a ban on "lightning rounds" that deny a candidate opportunity to expand an answer; candidate pre-approval of biographical data in screen graphics; and a pledge that debate hall temperatures be kept below 67 degrees (19 degrees Celsius).
They also sought to avoid "gotcha" questions, as well as candidate-to-candidate questioning.
After the CNBC debate, widely seen by Republicans as a debacle, the Republican National Committee (RNC) on Friday sought to deprive parent company NBC of the right to host a debate next February.
Not all candidates were on board with the letter aimed at forcing networks to bow to their demands.
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has said he aims to negotiate with networks directly, while New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is also skeptical.
"There's no deal in place," Christie told Fox News on Monday.
His message to fellow candidates: "Stop complaining.... Set up a stage, put podiums up there, and let's just go."
A final decision on whether to send the letter could come by Tuesday evening, Politico reported, citing people involved in the discussions.
Several Republican campaigns have expressed concern that the RNC had not negotiated effectively on their behalf with the networks.
In an effort to smooth ruffled feathers, the RNC named a new official, RNC chief operating officer Sean Cairncross, to work with the networks and the campaigns.
President Barack Obama has taken note of the Republican complaints, and offered a withering critique.
"They say, when I talk to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, he's going to straighten out... and then it turns out they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators," he quipped at a Monday evening Democratic fundraiser in New York.
"If you can't handle those guys, I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are going to be too worried about you."
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