GOP Debate 2015: Republican Candidates Embrace 5 p.m. 'Happy Hour' Debate in Ohio
Republican presidential hopefuls embraced the party's "happy hour" debate after being left out of Thursday's prime-time debate.
"A vast majority of Republican voters, never mind Americans, still don't know who I am," said businesswoman Carly Fiorina on MSNBC's Morning Joe. "You have a long way to go here. It's a long race. And I'll look forward to the 'happy hour' debate."
Fiorina is one of the many other Republican hopefuls that were not included in the much anticipated debate between GOP members. Less popular candidates include former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, former New York Gov. George Pataki and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore.
The prime-time debate is restricted to the top 10 finishers that include Donald Trump, the frontrunner among the Republican candidates.
Trump will be the focus of Thursday night's prime-time debate after gaining national coverage for expressing his strong conservative views on immigration, USA Today reports.
"People see that, and I would put all of that energy and whatever that brain power is ... into making our country successful and our country grow again," Trump said Tuesday on MSNBC.
Other candidates in the Fox News Top 10 include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
"Our field is the biggest and most diverse of any party in history and I am glad to see that every one of those extremely qualified candidates will have the opportunity to participate on Thursday evening," said Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus.
"Republicans across the country will be able to choose which candidate has earned their support after hearing them talk through the issues," he added.
Meanwhile, Santorum spokesman Matt Beynon called the polls "incredibly flawed."
"The idea that they have left out the runner-up for the 2012 nomination (Santorum), the former 4-term Governor of Texas (Perry), the Governor of Louisiana (Jindal), the first female Fortune 50 CEO (Fiorina), and the 3-term Senator from South Carolina (Graham) due to polling 7 months before a single vote is cast is preposterous," Beynon said in a statement.
Be part of the conversation and provide your opinion on this topic for Latin Post's "¿Que Dices?" series. Email your video or written response to opinion@latinpost.com and it may be shared in future "¿Que Dices?" content.
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!