Cruz calls for Fiorina to be in Saturday’s debate

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is calling for rival Carly Fiorina to be included in the GOP debate Saturday night.

“I would encourage the organizers of the debate to put Carly Fiorina there. She deserves to be there,” the Texas senator told reporters on Thursday, according to Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel. 

Cruz: “I would encourage the organizers of the debate to put @CarlyFiorina there. She deserves to be there.” pic.twitter.com/LBxBsNsW1j

— daveweigel (@daveweigel) February 4, 2016

{mosads}Fiorina responded by thanking Cruz for the support.

.@tedcruz, thanks for standing for the fair debate the American people deserve!

— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) February 4, 2016

The debate, hosted by ABC News, is the last one before the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary. It is also the first debate this year to not include an undercard contest. 

Fiorina has been urging the Republican National Committee to let her take part in the prime-time debate. The former Hewlett-Packard CEO wrote a letter to the RNC on Wednesday asking be included and calling the debate process “broken” for giving too much power to the news networks. 

Cruz joins a line of others, including past White House contenders Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, in rallying support behind Fiorina and asking that ABC News let her on the stage.

Both Romney and Gingrich argued that Fiorina came in ahead of both Republican presidential candidates John Kasich and Chris Christie in the Iowa caucuses and should therefore be allowed to take part in the debate. 

GOP candidate Ben Carson, for his part, argues all nine Republicans still in the presidential race — out of an initial 17 — should be invited to the debate.

With 9 Republicans left, I call on the RNC to get rid of arbitrary requirements for debates. Americans deserve to hear from every candidate.

— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) February 4, 2016