CNN Cancels Debate After Romney, Paul Decline Invites
NEW YORK (
) -- Mitt Romney and Ron Paul declined invites to the March 1 Republican debates as the candidates likely hoped to use the precious time to slide in more campaign events ahead of the pivotal Super Tuesday primaries.
"Without full participation of all four candidates, CNN will not move forward with the Super Tuesday debate,"
CNN
said in a statement.
The candidates will reconvene on the debate stage next week as the GOP presidential hopefuls will jockey for voters ahead of Michigan's and Arizona's primaries on Feb. 28.
The debate was scheduled in Georgia, where Newt Gingrich currently leads in the polls. State GOP Chairman Sue Everhart said she was "deeply disappointed" by the decision.
--Written by Joe Deaux in New York.
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