CNN learns Gingrich, Cain, Santorum to attend upcoming pres. forum
Davenport, Iowa (CNN) - CNN has learned specifics for a presidential forum in New York City on Thursday, including which Republican presidential candidates will participate. Organizers previously announced the event, but did not name which White House hopefuls would attend and offered few other details.
The three contenders said to be attending the education forum - sponsored by the College Board and News Corporation - are former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, conservative businessman Herman Cain and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
News Corporation is the parent company of a number of outlets including Fox News.
CNN learned of the three candidates from Gingrich himself.
After a campaign appearance in Davenport on Monday, Gingrich talked about an unrelated event - an upcoming tea party debate in Texas featuring him and Cain.
While discussing that event, Gingrich said: "We have the same thing happening at the College Boards in New York City on Thursday, this week, where Herman [Cain] and Rick Santorum and I have been asked to come and talk on education. And we're the three they invited."
Matt Martini, assistant vice president for communications for the Cain campaign, said: "Right now, it hasn't been finally confirmed on our schedule." But Martini added that could simply be a scheduling snafu and Cain's attendance at the event should be nailed down soon.
CNN subsequently learned other details of the event: It will be held Thursday evening at the New York Hilton in Manhattan. And it will not be open to the public. Instead, members of the College Board who paid a fee will be allowed to attend.
Generic details have been known for some time. A May 31 press release announcing the forum said it would be "timed to coincide with the College Board's annual national forum, which attracts representatives from nearly 6,000 educational institutions across the nation." The release also said the moderators will be Paul Gigot of the Wall Street Journal and Joel I. Klein, CEO of News Corporation's education division.
Klein is the former chancellor of New York City schools.
"I hope that this forum will help all Americans who care about our nation's security and prosperity to make an informed decision in 2012," said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, in the press release.
Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corporation, was quoted as saying: "Whoever is elected President in 2012 will need to take dramatic steps to improve the way we prepare our students for college and ensure our nation's ability to better compete in the global economy. This forum will provide a great opportunity for candidates for the Republican nomination to articulate their plans to achieve these goals."
"Complete details about the event - including participants and format - will be released at a later date," the press release added.
–Follow Shannon Travis on Twitter: @ShanTravisCNN
Sure hope they do the Haka instead of dance around issues..
The three contenders?!? How can anyone with half a brain, in their right mind consider Newt or Santorum a contender? Cain is at least a contender this month, but no doubt that will change as well. At least most people know who Newt is, that's always a plus, but Santorum!?! In most polls Santorum comes in with 1% or less. No one knows anything about me and I'm pretty sure I could poll at 1% or less. For the most part (may be some hope for cain) these guys are jokes. I don't why CNN or the GOP continues to include Santorum in anything.
Even the so-called far-RIGHT party is "splitting!" This tells you all of the other characters on the stage are not worth considering. This is getting good!!!
Obama 2012
For this three to have an audience about education, the audience will probably consist of kindergarden kids.
So they want ALL AMERICANS to be aware of whats best for their childrens education yet its closed to the public you have to pay to get in while the party of no continue to lay off teachers cut prmgrams for students and making the rich richer. What a crock of
Where's Bachmann? Her campaign mgr. said to those who quit in NH that the reason he's rude to people is because they're concentrating on Iowa! This is Iowa, so where's the consentration? Maybe Rude Boy was a little too standoffish to get her invited?
Wow, I thought the 3 Stooges were dead.
I wonder how many taxpayer dollars will be used by educators to attend what appears to be a political event. Could this be why News Corp has been so quiet about the guest speakers, to hide the partisanship of the event from those who are signing up expecting a neutral forum?
The Republicans pander for the dumb vote so having Santorium,Cain and Gingrich speak on education is just flat out hilarious.How are they going to continue to brainwash thier supporters if they are highly educated ?
Larry , Curly and Moe !
Best Male clown?
Michelle Bachmann unanimously has been selected as the 'Best female Clown' of the republican party. This is a perfect opportunity to select the 'Best male Clown' We are already quite certain that Gingrich is in the lead with Santorum following in a close second place. They're both working hard, let's see who will eventually receive the Clown's crown.