Oregon GOP: Decision on Debate to be Made on Thursday

Organizers of a Republican presidential debate scheduled for Monday night in Portland, Ore., will decide on Thursday whether to hold the debate without Mitt Romney, said Jim Pasero of the Oregon Republican Party.

Romney's campaign told organizers on Monday that he will not participate, the Boston Globe reported, because the former Massachusetts governor will be in  Illinois campaigning before that state's primary on Tuesday.

Newt Gingrich has said he will attend the debate. Campaign officials for Rick Santorum and Ron Paul have not decided, said Pat Kruis of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Kruis said if they get three of the four candidates to accept, “We’ll move forward even without Romney.”

The debate is being organized by the Oregon Republican Party and produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Washington Times.