As we told you, the Republican presidential candidates were not happy with the RNC over what went down at last week’s CNBC moderated debate and sent campaign representatives to D.C. tonight to discuss what changes should be made to the debates going forward.
We don’t have any official word yet on what was discussed, but the Washington Post’s Robert Costa and Dave Weigel live tweeted what they learned from their sources inside the meeting. Check it out:
Corey Lewandowski, Trump's campaign mgr, is here at the Hilton in Old Town. So is Trump's atty, Don McGahn.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
NEWS from inside the meeting… A campaign manager texts WaPo: "Major question is if the RNC should be involved at all."
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
Per sources in room, there is little satisfaction over Priebus move on Spicer/Cairncross. They want power, not staffing shift…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
Right now, as we speak, the campaigns are discussing *possibly* asking the RNC to *only* do logistics for debates- tickets, etc.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
Another operative in room texts: "I'm pushing for RNC to lead [TV talks]," but says several others want camps to negotiate w/ networks
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
The divide isn't only about moderators and formats. It's fundamentally about who is in a position to lead those discussions: camps or RNC?
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
Reps from Graham, Santorum and Jindal campaigns say they’ll argue for two debates of 7 randomly chosen candidates at tonight’s meeting.
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) November 1, 2015
RNC working hard to reassure unhappy camps. First Priebus suspends NBC debate. Then he shakes up staff re: debates pre-Sunday summit…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
Now this is interesting. According to Costa, the candidates will treat Fox News differently than the other media organizations:
Per more sources in room, the group has decided to lay off Fox, put them in sep category as the camps move fwd. Kasich team pushed for this.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
In essence, there is fury about press but camps here are deciding to treat Fox differently moving fwd. More scrutiny for other outlets.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 1, 2015
"People are afraid to make Roger mad." Quote of the night, via text, from a source participating in the mtg.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
And an agreement was “informally” reached, whatever that really means:
NEWS: the group has agreed informally to what they want to see in future formats, per sources in room… "Format talk done," one texts
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
What the GOP camps want: opening and closing remarks of at least 30 secs each, 2 hours max in length for debates
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
Where things stand: lots of agreement, but no formal consensus on many topics. Moving together but not yet ready for "list of demands"
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
"Going surprisingly well" per another source there
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
What's being discussed now: CNN. The Fox Biz debate was briefly discussed, focus is on CNN, the next one post FBN. Concerns being aired…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
Do the “undercard” candidates really get a say in this?
NEW: uneasiness late in meeting as the undercard players speak up… media bashing led to happy hour, now talks more tense
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
Undercard players saying they want on main stage…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
Trump CM at meeting, per source: "Why do I want to let someone who's polling at 0.1 percent on that stage so he can take shots at Trump?"
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) November 2, 2015
One other agreement so far, per sources: campaigns get approval of TV graphics on screen during debate (this was a Bush camp concern)
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
What I keep hearing from all sides here: tonight, at its core, is about whether the campaigns will take control of network negotiations
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
The meeting has ended, reps from 2016 GOP camps streaming out into the night, a brisk evening in Old Town Alexandria
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
Here’s the write-up for the Post and news that a list of “demands” is on the way:
My latest: on the scene w/ @daveweigel inside the GOP debate turmoil https://t.co/qH6Xq0DITE
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
BREAKING NEWS: There will be a letter of demands sent to networks from campaigns in the next 48 hours, per leaders of tonight's mtg.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
What happened tonight, in one sentence: The GOP camps agreed on a letter that they'll soon send to networks, a letter crafted w/o RNC input.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) November 2, 2015
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