Representatives for the GOP presidential candidates huddled on Sunday to organize their demands for future debates, but seemed to accomplish little.
Meeting in an Alexandria, Virginia, hotel, the campaigns agreed on making two-hour time limits, mandatory 30-second opening and closing statements and equal speaking time for all candidates their core demands to networks hosting future debates.
Fox Business will moderate the next GOP debate on Nov. 10.
But bolder ideas, like doing away with the smaller undercard debate in favor of cramming all 14 candidates on stage together, weren’t agreed upon, with Donald Trump’s campaign serving as the loudest objector.
Carly Fiorina’s was the lone campaign not represented at the meeting.
The campaigns decided to send a co-signed letter to networks this week spelling out their demands. They will do so without collaborating with the RNC, which many candidates feel has dropped the ball thus far in negotiating favorable debate conditions.
The power powwow came after the GOP universally condemned CNBC for what it deemed a terrible debate that lobbed grenades at candidates and showed bias and a lack of professionalism throughout.
CNBC has defended itself and told TheWrap on Friday that it has plans to host future presidential debates.