Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, and Newt Gingrich will join the four lesser-known candidates who participated in last month's debate in South Carolina--Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Herman Cain. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will participate in the June 13 debate on the campus of Saint Anselm College. Sarah Palin, Jon Huntsman, and Rudy Giuliani all declined invitations to the event, hosted by CNN, WMUR, and the New Hampshire Union Leader. CNN Chief National Correspondent/Anchor John King will moderate the debate with journalists from WMUR and the Union Leader participating in the questioning. The debate takes place eight months before the New Hampshire primary, a critical contest on the road to the Republican presidential nomination. Debaters had to have at least 2 percent support in at least three major national polls in April or May, or average 2 percent in two New Hampshire polls.
– Seven top Republican presidential hopefuls will gather this month for the first New Hampshire 2012 debate. Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum will meet at Saint Anselm College for the face-off, hosted by CNN’s John King. It's the first debate of the election for Bachmann, Gingrich, and Romney, and it will be held June 13, some eight months before the state’s primary. The Atlantic snarkily refers to it as the "first GOP debate with recognizable candidates," thus distinguishing it from last month's South Carolina debate. As for Sarah Palin: “I don't think I'm going to be there,” she told reporters. “Thank you for asking, though.”