GOP candidates aren't happy about not getting to sell themselves their way at the beginning and end of the next debate. The issue apparently blew up Wednesday on what was supposed to be a routine call to plan the Oct. 28 event. Alex Isenstadt
reports.
The first to complain was Ed Brookover, a longtime Republican strategist who is currently working for Ben Carson. Brookover, according to two sources on the call, threatened to take his concerns public.
The sources also said that Chris LaCivita, a top strategist for the Rand Paul campaign, echoed the concerns that the campaigns had not agreed to any such statement, arguing that being able to give opening and closing remarks wouldn’t be too much to ask for during a two-hour debate.
Other campaign officials, including those working for Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and John Kasich, then chimed in, saying they agreed with the Carson and Paul campaigns.