Donald Trump and Ben Carson are officially threatening to boycott the Oct. 28 debate at CU unless CNBC makes some changes in the format including the length of time Republicans are expected to pontificate on live TV – three hours.
We’re not taking sides, but we believe it is our duty to speak on behalf of the entire electorate when we say – our collective liver can’t take a three-hour debate drinking game.
The dynamic duo are also demanding that everyone on stage get the opportunity to deliver an opening and closing statement, which is really nice because that’s the only time some candidates seem to get an opportunity to speak.
Here’s what the two GOP frontrunners had to say “in a letter to CNBC Washington bureau chief Matthew Cuddy, obtained exclusively by NBC News:”
“Neither Mr. Trump or Dr. Carson will participate in your debate if it is longer than 120 minutes including commercials and does not include opening and closing statements.”
Apparently it’s not just the GOP frontrunners unhappy with the format. Politico reports that during a conference call, an official with the Ted Cruz campaign said the Texan would consider bailing if opening and closing remarks were dropped.
But it was Rand Paul aide Chris LaCivita who delivered the coup de grâce:
“If we don’t have opening and closing statements, CNBC can go f— themselves.”
The Peak has exclusively obtained an email to the Peak written by the Peak, that says: “If half the Republicans boycott the three-hour debate, we demand combat pay and liability insurance for drafting the next drinking game.”