Presidential front-runners Donald Trump and Ben Carson Friday applauded the Republican National Committee's decision to suspend future debates with NBC over Wednesday's disastrous outing on its CNBC cable network.
"The campaign supports the RNC's decision to suspend the debate on Feb. 26 due to the total lack of substance and respect exhibited during Wednesday night's debate," Trump's campaign said in a statement.
"We look forward to pursuing alternatives along with the RNC to ensure candidates are given ample opportunity to outline their vision for the future of our country."
Deana Bass, a Carson spokeswoman, told
The Daily Caller: "We have no objections to the RNC's decision. The debates must focus on the American voter and not on network ratings of moderator egos."
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus told NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack that the committee was suspending its partnership with the network and its properties — barring NBC from co-hosting a primary debate scheduled for February.
The move came amid heavy criticism about Wednesday's debate — from the candidates, media and political pundits, even Priebus himself.
He said that the moderators had created "a hostile environment" during the debate.
In his letter Friday to Lack, Priebus said that the debate was "conducted in bad faith."
"The RNC
's sole role in the primary debate process is to ensure that our candidates are given a full and fair opportunity to lay out their vision for America's future," he said in the letter.
"We simply cannot continue with NBC without full consultation with our campaigns."
The committee's move comes as several GOP candidates plan to meet on Sunday to discuss complaints about how the debates are being moderated.
Priebus said the Feb. 26 debate would be held as scheduled with its other planned media partner, National Review.
A NBC News spokeswoman said in a statement: "This is a disappointing development. However, along with our debate partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party."
The Feb. 26 debate will be held at the University of Houston.
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