In the wake of Donald Trump's
hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live," GOP presidential rivals Ohio Gov. John Kasich, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former New York Gov. George Pataki are reportedly demanding equal time.
The real estate billionaire got 12 minutes and 5 seconds of air time during his Nov. 7 appearance on the late-night comedy show, and under Federal Communications Communication rules, the other Republican primary contenders have to be given equal treatment if they choose.
Lawyers for Kasich and Graham both filed letters to an NBC station in Iowa on Friday, according to FCC records,
Politico reports.
A Kasich spokesman tells Politico he'd demanded time at stations in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
"Senator Graham is due an equal opportunity to appear on your station after Mr. Trump’s appearance," a letter signed by his chief counsel Brendan Parets stated, Politico reports.
According to
CNN, Pataki's request was sent to 16 NBC affiliates that carried SNL in New England, which includes the primary state of New Hampshire, as well as South Carolina, Iowa and New York.
"Trump's ideas are either fantasy or comedy, so every time he goes on the air we should be eligible for equal time, but we'll settle for twelve and a half minutes," Pataki's spokesman Dave Catalfamo tells CNN.
Candidates have up until one week after a political opponent's appearance to demand time from television stations.
NBC posted a similar notice in October after Hillary Clinton made a three-minute guest appearance on SNL, CNN reports.
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