Washington (CNN) - CNN is joining with WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union Leader to produce the first 2012 Republican Presidential Primary debate in the "First in the Nation" primary state, the media organizations announced Tuesday. It is scheduled to take place on June 7, 2011.
As the first state to hold a primary, New Hampshire has played a historic role in helping determine each party's presidential nominees. In 2008, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, won the New Hampshire primary and went on to capture the GOP presidential nomination.
"It is clear that New Hampshire will once again play a critical role with its first-in-the-nation Presidential Primary," said Joseph W. McQuaid, president and publisher of the Union Leader. "The Union Leader and UnionLeader.com are happy to team up with CNN and WMUR-TV to present voters with an early look at what promises to be an interesting field of Republican candidates."
WMUR, CNN and the Union Leader have a long history of working together to host presidential debates, most recently the historic back-to-back events that were held in June 2007.
"WMUR is proud of its long tradition of producing Presidential Primary Debates as a public service to inform our viewers," said Jeff Bartlett, president and general manager of WMUR. "We are excited to partner with CNN and the Union Leader to continue our tradition in 2011."
Sam Feist, CNN's vice president of Washington programming, said the network was "thrilled to again be working with the Union Leader and WMUR" to produce this event.
"New Hampshire's unique role in the presidential nominating process will make this first New Hampshire debate a critical event of the 2012 presidential campaign," said Feist, who also serves as CNN's political director.
WMUR, CNN and the Union Leader said additional details regarding the debate will be released at a later date.
From CNN Politics
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Whatever forum is presented let's keep it real. When a candidate is asked a question he needs to answer said question. No more going off about butterflies flying around or hunting animals from helicopters.
GOP 2012 ticket Miss Cleo / Christine O'Donnell
Betcha Ms. Palin will back out.
For crying out loud! Could the politicians focus for once on the American people and our present, urgent problems instead of just worrying about the next election!
Notice to all politicians: You will be judged in two years by what you actually DO for the American people. Right now, all I care about is the obstructionist Republicans getting off their duffs and helping our President and our country succeed.
Everything else is just silly, juvenile noise.
The GOP was just shown by voters that they are sick and tired of deficit spending, yet they are willing to trade favors to their campaign donors, while thumbing their noses at the very voters who kept them in power, one last time to the tune of $1 Trillion. They figure that come 2012, they can neatly lay all the blame on the Democrats as the voters are known to forget in much less time, as history has shown. I hope that the Democrats force their hand and make the GOP enact tax legislation in the upcoming Congressional session; its only fair, according to Mitt Romney. Let the blame lay where it truly belongs.
There is only one debate: How fast can we stop the Republicans corruption machine??
If Ms. Palin decides to run, I wonder how she'll respond to this not being Fox? Since she only wants to talk to them. The rest of the candidates will have no problem.........just a thought.
Oh awesome. The 2012 election cycle. ALREADY. Any reason why people are tuning out and getting sick of the whole process. 24-hour cable access news IS NOT a good thing. Yes, a strong press is vital, but having to constantly feed the 24-hour new cycle is not.
Awww Geeeez– I already have other plans for that night and won't be able to sit glued to the TV listening to every wise and thoughtful word from this batch. Awwww Mannnnnnn.
I hope CNN will move to neutral position in 2012 unlike 2008 when they moved extremely left in electing Obama vs Clinton during DEM Primary and then heavily favoured Obama over McCain just to be a part of History making which is totally unfair to the FAIR Journalism.
How the heck did you get this from Fox News? Are they going to file a lawsuit or did you get prior approval from them?
I hope Katie Couric is the moderator.
The New Hampshire Union leader is anti gay! Same sex marriage is legal in New Hampshire and they refuse to publish same sex marriage announcements. CNN where is your integrity?
If Palin and Gingrich run, count on them to decline participation claiming they can't a fair shake from "lamestream" media, when in reality they couldn't answer a straight question if their lives depended on it.
Is this all the GOP is going to focus on? Elections? That's crap; get some work done or don't take your pay.
They (both parties) need to fix the hopeless mess thay have created over the past 40 years before they DARE think ahead to 2012!
"CNN where is your integrity?"
In the trash bin where the advertising department put it. Ratings are the new integrity, jsut like advertising revenue is the new arbiter of truth.
Job creation has apparently taken the back burner to the 2012 GOPer primary. Thanks GOPers for keeping your eye on the ball in your support of the working class.
President Barack Obama’s job approval rating has fallen again to 39%, equaling a low since he took office. Also, 63% of likely voters say Obama is a weak leader, compared to 19% who label him strong.
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lol.....heckuva job, Barry!
PeterD – WRONG! It CNN was FAIR – they'd be telling all the stories of corruption and convincing us to vote third party.
Tune in to Fox News and tell me how fair their reporting is. You'd think we were at war with Obama, not The Taliban.
I was hoping for a cage match! would tell us voters about the same thing these"debates" do as they really are just press confrences.,
"bailoutsos
GOP 2012 ticket Miss Cleo / Christine O'Donnell"
LMAO!
Well, these could be the people we are stuck with, so I want to hear them, even thoughtI won't believe them. AND,
hope I don't "jinx" it, but kudos to Ticker. Two days running and not one you-know-who story. It has been a
pleasure, and I hope a new "Trend"!
presidential election debate???....the gobp will have to show that they can govern.....for the last 25 years they have not, so why have a debate when they do not know how to fix or do things to help WE THE PEOPLE.....by the time they decide on a nominee......therewill not be anyone left to show us what they will do.
This is the real problem with American politics, having the first primary debate more than a year before the elections. This means that the campaign season would officially start around February next year. At what point does our politics become about helping the American people instead of just a quest to have people elected or re-elected? It would be better if the candidates campaigned for a month or two and then have every primary on one night. This would shorten the process and put the focus back on the task of governing. I guess this has been the case for decades (I'm only 21) but there are better ways for candidates to get their message to everyone without having to travel the entire country.