The Arizona Republican Party and CNN announced on September 29 that they are co-sponsoring a debate between the Republican presidential hopefuls at 6 p.m. (8 p.m. EST) on Thursday, December 1. According to Governor Jan Brewer, the debate will highlight Southwestern issues like illegal immigration, border security, the housing crisis, and states’ rights. “These are national issues, certainly,” said the governor, “but Arizonans live and breathe them.”
Sam Feist, CNN’s Washington bureau chief and senior vice president, said that the network was “honored to provide voters in Arizona and around the country an opportunity to hear the GOP candidates present their vision for the future.” The debate will also be broadcast on CNN International, CNN en Espaol, and CNN Radio.
At the moment, a specific venue has not been chosen, but the governor did say she hoped it would be in the Phoenix area, in order to highlight the capital city. The debate has received a tentative blessing from the Republican National Committee, pending the details of the final proposal. Arizona Republicans are hopeful that the debate will raise the Grand Canyon State’s overall profile in the GOP nomination process.
Arizona will hold its Republican primary on February 28, 2012.
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