Fox News to host forum for GOP candidates who don’t make debate cut

by Elliot Smilowitz - 06/10/15 8:57 PM ET

Before the network airs a Republican presidential debate in August, Fox News will host a forum for candidates who don’t make the cut for the debate.

The network announced Wednesday evening it will invite candidates outside the top 10 to the forum the afternoon of Aug. 6 in Cleveland.

Later that night, Fox will air a debate limited to candidates in the top 10 in an average of the five most recent major national polls taken before the event.

{mosads}“As we noted when we first announced the debate criteria, our intention has always been to provide coverage to the wide field of Republican candidates,” Fox News’ Executive Vice President of News Editorial Michael Clemente said in a statement.

The network announced the debate restrictions last month.

The move drew criticism from candidates, including former Sen. Rick Santorum and Ben Carson.

CNN will treat its Sept. 16 debate similarly, holding one heat for the top 10 candidates in polling, and one heat for the rest.

Fox’s candidate forum will invite candidates outside the top 10 who score 1 percent or higher in an average of the five most recent major national polls taken before the event.

The forum will be hosted by Bill Hemmer and Martha MacCallum, cohorts of the network’s “America’s Newsroom.”

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